GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 172

Short Title:  No Safety Course/Disabled Hunters.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Albertson.
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Referred to:  Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources.
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February 18, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF HUNTING LICENSES FOR CERTAIN DISABLED HUNTERS WHO HAVE NOT COMPLIED WITH THE HUNTING SAFETY COURSE REQUIREMENT.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 113-270.1A reads as rewritten:
"§ 113-270.1A.  Hunter safety course required.
	(a) Except as provided in subsection (a1) of this section, on or after July 1, 1991, a person, regardless of age, may not procure a hunting license or hunt in this State without producing a certificate of competency or a hunting license issued prior to July 1, 1991, or signing a statement on a form provided by the Wildlife Resources Commission that he had such a license.
(a1)	A person who qualifies for a totally disabled resident combination hunting-fishing license under G.S. 113-270.2(c)(12) need not comply with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section in order to receive that license, so long as the person does not make use of the license unless:
(1)	The person is accompanied by an adult of at least 21 years of age who is licensed to hunt; and
(2)	The adult hunter maintains a proximity to the disabled hunter which enables the adult to take immediate control of the hunting device at all times.
(b)	The Wildlife Resources Commission shall institute and coordinate a statewide course of instruction in hunter ethics, wildlife laws and regulations, and competency and safety in the handling of firearms, and in so doing, may cooperate with any political subdivision, or with any reputable organization having as one of its objectives the promotion of competency and safety in the handling of firearms, including local rod and gun clubs.
(1)	The Wildlife Resources Commission shall designate those persons or agencies authorized to give the course of instruction, and this designation shall be valid until revoked by the Commission.  Those designated persons shall submit to the Wildlife Resources Commission validated listings naming all persons who have successfully completed the course of instruction.
(2)	The Wildlife Resources Commission may conduct the course in hunter safety, using Commission personnel or other persons at times and in areas where other competent agencies are unable or unwilling to meet the demand for instruction.
(3)	The Wildlife Resources Commission shall issue a certificate of competency and safety to each person who successfully completes the course of instruction, and the certificate shall be valid until revoked by the Commission.
(4)	Any similar certificate issued outside the State by a governmental agency, shall be accepted as complying with the requirements of subsection (a) above, if the privileges are reciprocal for North Carolina residents.
(5)	The Wildlife Resources Commission shall adopt rules and regulations to provide for the course of instruction and the issuance of the certificates consistent with the purpose of this section.
(c)	On or after July 1, 1991, any person who obtains a hunting license by presenting a fictitious certificate of competency or who attempts to obtain a certificate of competency or hunting license through fraud shall have his hunting privileges revoked by the Wildlife Resources Commission for a period not to exceed one year.
(d)	Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the sale of lifetime licenses as provided in G.S. 113-270.2(c)(1a).  Pending satisfactory completion of the hunter safety course, persons who possess such licenses may exercise the privileges thereof when accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age who is licensed to hunt in this State.  For the purpose of this section, 'accompanied' is defined as being able to take immediate control of the hunting device."
Section 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.