1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; modifying military and veteran eligibility requirements 
1.3 	for certain permits and licenses;amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, sections 
1.4 	85.053, subdivisions 8, 10; 97A.441, subdivision 6; 97A.465, subdivisions 1b, 5, 
1.5 	by adding a subdivision; 97A.485, subdivision 6; 97B.715, subdivision 1; 97B.801; 
1.6 	97C.305, subdivision 2; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 97A.441, 
1.7 	subdivisions 5, 6a.
1.8 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 85.053, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
1.10 		Subd. 8.Free permit; military personnel; exemption. (a) A one-day permit, Annual 
1.11 	permits under subdivision 4, shall 1 must be issued without a fee for a motor vehicle being 
1.12 	used by a person who is serving in to active military service personnel in any branch or unit 
1.13 	of the United States armed forces and who is stationed outside Minnesota, during the period 
1.14 	of active service and for 90 days immediately thereafter, if the or their dependents. To 
1.15 	qualify for a free permit under this subdivision, a person presents the person's current military 
1.16 	orders must present qualifying military identification or an annual pass for the United States 
1.17 	military issued through the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass program
1.18 	to the park attendant on duty or other designee of the commissioner.
1.19 	(b) For purposes of this section, "active service" has the meaning given under section 
1.20 	190.05, subdivision 5c, when performed outside Minnesota. subdivision, the commissioner 
1.21 	shall establish what constitutes qualifying military identification by written order published 
1.22 	in the State Register. The written order is exempt from the rulemaking provisions of chapter 
1.23 	14, and section 14.386 does not apply.
2.1 	(c) A permit is not required for a motor vehicle being used by military personnel or their 
2.2 	dependents who have in their possession the annual pass for United States military and their 
2.3 	dependents issued by the federal government for access to federal recreation sites. For 
2.4 	vehicles permitted under paragraph (a), the permit or decal issued under this subdivision is 
2.5 	valid only when displayed on a vehicle owned and occupied by the person to whom the 
2.6 	permit is issued.
2.7 	(d) The commissioner may issue a daily vehicle permit free of charge to an individual 
2.8 	who qualifies under paragraph (a) and does not own or operate a motor vehicle.

2.9 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 85.053, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
2.10 		Subd. 10.Free entrance permit; disabled veterans. (a) The commissioner shall issue 
2.11 	an annual park permit for no charge to any veteran with a total and permanent 
2.12 	service-connected disability, and a daily park permit to any resident veteran with any level 
2.13 	of service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans 
2.14 	Affairs, who presents each year a copy of the veteran's determination letter or other official 
2.15 	form of validation issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the United 
2.16 	States Department of Defense to a park attendant or commissioner's designee. For the 
2.17 	purposes of this section subdivision, "veteran" has the meaning given in section 197.447.
2.18 	(b) For vehicles permitted under paragraph (a), the permit or decal issued under this 
2.19 	subdivision is valid only when displayed on a vehicle owned and occupied by the person 
2.20 	to whom the permit is issued.
2.21 	(c) The commissioner may issue a daily vehicle permit free of charge to an individual 
2.22 	who qualifies under paragraph (a) and does not own or operate a motor vehicle.

2.23 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 97A.441, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
2.24 		Subd. 6.Taking deer; disabled veterans. (a) Upon being furnished satisfactory evidence, 
2.25 	a person authorized to issue licenses must issue, without a fee, a an annual license and tag 
2.26 	to take deer with by firearms or by archery to a resident that who is a veteran, as defined in 
2.27 	section 197.447, and that has a 100 percent service connected permanent and total 
2.28 	service-connected disability as defined by the United States Veterans Administration upon 
2.29 	being furnished satisfactory evidence Department of Veterans Affairs.
2.30 	(b) The commissioner, upon request, must issue a permanent card documenting 
2.31 	satisfactory evidence of status with a 100 percent permanently disabled status permanent 
2.32 	and total service-connected disability.
3.1 	(c) The following serve as are satisfactory evidence to obtain a license under this 
3.2 	subdivision at all agent locations:
3.3 	(1) a card issued under paragraph (b); or
3.4 	(2) a driver's license or Minnesota identification card bearing the designation under 
3.5 	section 171.07, subdivision 15, paragraph (a), clause (2).; or
3.6 	(3) documentation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs clearly stating 
3.7 	a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability.

3.8 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 97A.465, subdivision 1b, is amended to read:
3.9 		Subd. 1b.Residents discharged from active service. (a) A resident veteran who has 
3.10 	served at any time during the preceding 24 months in federal active service, as defined in 
3.11 	section 190.05, subdivision 5c, outside the United States as an active-duty member of the 
3.12 	United States armed forces or as a member of the reserve or National Guard, or as a reserve 
3.13 	component or active duty member of the United States armed forces and has been discharged 
3.14 	from federal active service may take small game and fish without a license if the resident 
3.15 	possesses official federal active-service military discharge papers. The resident must obtain 
3.16 	the seals, tags, and coupons required of a licensee, which must be furnished. Any required 
3.17 	seals, tags, or coupons must be issued without charge.
3.18 	(b) The commissioner shall must issue, without a fee, a deer license, valid for a deer of 
3.19 	either sex, to a resident veteran who has served at any time during the preceding 24 months 
3.20 	in federal active service, as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5c, outside the United 
3.21 	States as an active-duty member of the United States armed forces or as a member of the 
3.22 	reserve or National Guard, or as a reserve component or active duty member of the United 
3.23 	States armed forces and has been discharged from federal active service. Eligibility under 
3.24 	this paragraph is limited to one license per resident.

3.25 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 97A.465, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
3.26 		Subd. 5.Preference to service members. (a) For purposes of this subdivision:
3.27 	(1) "qualified service member or veteran" means a Minnesota resident who:
3.28 	(i) is currently serving, or has served at any time during the past 24 months, in active 
3.29 	service as a member of the United States armed forces, including the reserve or National 
3.30 	Guard or other military reserves;
4.1 	(ii) has received a Purple Heart medal for qualifying military service, as shown by official 
4.2 	military records or a veteran health identification card with designation; or
4.3 	(iii) has a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability rated at 100 
4.4 	percent as defined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; and
4.5 	(2) "active service" means service defined under section 190.05, subdivision 5b or 5c.
4.6 	(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, chapter 97B or 97C, or 
4.7 	administrative rules, the commissioner may give first preference to qualified service members 
4.8 	or veterans in any drawing or lottery involving the selection of applicants for hunting or 
4.9 	fishing licenses, permits, and special permits. This subdivision does not apply to licenses 
4.10 	or permits for taking moose, elk, or prairie chickens. Actions of the commissioner under 
4.11 	this subdivision are not rules under the Administrative Procedure Act, and section 14.386
4.12 	does not apply.

4.13 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 97A.465, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
4.14 	read:
4.15 		Subd. 9.Disabled veterans; small game and fish. (a) A resident veteran as defined in 
4.16 	section 197.447 who has a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability as 
4.17 	defined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and possesses satisfactory 
4.18 	evidence may take small game, except turkey, prairie chicken, and wolf, and fish without 
4.19 	a license. The resident must obtain the seals, tags, and coupons required of a licensee. Any 
4.20 	required seals, tags, or coupons must be issued without charge.
4.21 	(b) The commissioner, upon request, must issue a permanent card documenting 
4.22 	satisfactory evidence of status with a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected 
4.23 	disability.
4.24 	(c) The following are satisfactory evidence under paragraph (a):
4.25 	(1) a card issued under paragraph (b);
4.26 	(2) a driver's license or Minnesota identification card bearing the designation under 
4.27 	section 171.07, subdivision 15, paragraph (a), clause (2); or
4.28 	(3) documentation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs clearly stating 
4.29 	a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability.

5.1 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 97A.485, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
5.2 		Subd. 6.Licenses to be sold and issuing fees. (a) Persons authorized to sell licenses 
5.3 	under this section must issue the following licenses for the license fee and the following 
5.4 	issuing fees:
5.5 	(1) to take deer or bear with firearms and by archery, the issuing fee is $1;
5.6 	(2) Minnesota sporting, the issuing fee is $1;
5.7 	(3) to take small game, to take fish by angling or by spearing, and to trap fur-bearing 
5.8 	animals, the issuing fee is $1;
5.9 	(4) to apply for a limited hunt drawing, the issuing fee is $1 unless the application requires 
5.10 	a license purchase at the time of application and the license purchase requires an application 
5.11 	fee;
5.12 	(5) for a prairie-chicken license, the issuing fee is $1;
5.13 	(6) for a turkey license, the issuing fee is $1;
5.14 	(7) for an elk license, the issuing fee is $1;
5.15 	(8) for a moose license, the issuing fee is $1;
5.16 	(9) for a wolf license, the issuing fee is $1;
5.17 	(10) for a stamp validation that is not issued simultaneously with a license, an issuing 
5.18 	fee of 50 cents may be charged at the discretion of the authorized seller;
5.19 	(11) for stamp validations issued simultaneously with a license, there is no fee;
5.20 	(12) for licenses, seals, tags, or coupons issued without a fee under section 97A.441, 
5.21 	subdivisions 1 to 6a 4, or 97A.465, there is no fee;
5.22 	(13) for lifetime licenses, there is no fee; and
5.23 	(14) for all other licenses, permits, renewals, or applications or any other transaction 
5.24 	through the electronic licensing system under this chapter or any other chapter when an 
5.25 	issuing fee is not specified, an issuing fee of $1 may be charged at the discretion of the 
5.26 	authorized seller.
5.27 	(b) Only one issuing fee may be collected when selling more than one stamp in the same 
5.28 	transaction after the end of the season for which the stamp was issued.
5.29 	(c) The agent shall keep the issuing fee as a commission for selling the licenses.
5.30 	(d) The commissioner shall collect the issuing fee on licenses sold by the commissioner.
6.1 	(e) A license, except stamps, must state the amount of the issuing fee and that the issuing 
6.2 	fee is kept by the seller as a commission for selling the licenses.
6.3 	(f) For duplicate licenses, including licenses issued without a fee, the issuing fees are:
6.4 	(1) for licenses to take big game, 75 cents; and
6.5 	(2) for other licenses, 50 cents.
6.6 	(g) The commissioner may issue one-day angling licenses in books of ten licenses each 
6.7 	to fishing guides operating charter boats upon receipt of payment of all license fees, excluding 
6.8 	the issuing fee required under this section. Copies of sold and unsold licenses shall be 
6.9 	returned to the commissioner. The commissioner shall refund the charter boat captain for 
6.10 	the license fees of all unsold licenses. Copies of sold licenses shall be maintained by the 
6.11 	commissioner for one year.

6.12 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 97B.715, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
6.13 		Subdivision 1.Stamp required. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) or section 
6.14 	97A.405, subdivision 2, a person required to possess a small-game license may not hunt 
6.15 	pheasants without a pheasant stamp validation.
6.16 	(b) The following persons are exempt from this subdivision:
6.17 	(1) residents and nonresidents under age 18 and residents over age 65;
6.18 	(2) persons hunting on licensed commercial shooting preserves; and
6.19 	(3) resident disabled veterans with a license issued under section 97A.441, subdivision 
6.20 	6a; and
6.21 	(4) (3) residents and nonresidents hunting on licenses issued under section 97A.475, 
6.22 	subdivision 2, clause (18); or 3, paragraph (a), clause (14).

6.23 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 97B.801, is amended to read:
6.24 	97B.801 MINNESOTA MIGRATORY-WATERFOWL STAMP REQUIRED.
6.25 	(a) Except as provided in this section or section 97A.405, subdivision 2, a person required 
6.26 	to possess a small-game license may not take migratory waterfowl without a 
6.27 	migratory-waterfowl stamp validation.
6.28 	(b) Residents under age 18 or over age 65; resident disabled veterans with a license 
6.29 	issued under section 97A.441, subdivision 6a; and persons hunting on their own property 
6.30 	are not required to possess a stamp validation under this section.
7.1 	(c) Residents and nonresidents with licenses issued under section 97A.475, subdivision 
7.2 	2, clause (18); or 3, paragraph (a), clause (14), are not required to possess a stamp validation 
7.3 	under this section.

7.4 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 97C.305, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
7.5 		Subd. 2.Exception. A trout-and-salmon stamp validation is not required to take fish by 
7.6 	angling or to possess trout and salmon if:
7.7 	(1) the person:
7.8 	(i) possesses a license to take fish by angling for a period of 24 hours or 72 hours from 
7.9 	the time of issuance under section 97A.475, subdivision 6, clause (4) or (5); or 7, paragraph 
7.10 	(a), clause (3) or (5); and
7.11 	(ii) is taking fish by angling, or the trout or salmon were taken by the person, during the 
7.12 	period the license is valid;
7.13 	(2) the person is taking fish, or the trout or salmon were taken by the person, as authorized 
7.14 	under section 97C.035; or
7.15 	(3) the person has a valid license issued under section 97A.441, subdivision 1, 2, 3, or 
7.16 	4, or 5.

7.17 	Sec. 11. REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.
 7.18 	The revisor of statutes shall renumber Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.441, subdivision 
7.19 	6, as Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.465, subdivision 10.

7.20 	Sec. 12.  REPEALER.
 7.21 	Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 97A.441, subdivisions 5 and 6a, are repealed.

APPENDIX 

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 17-0171 

97A.441 LICENSES TO BE ISSUED WITHOUT FEE.Subd. 5.Angling; disabled veterans. 
(a) A person authorized to issue licenses must issue, without a fee, a permanent license to take fish by angling to a resident who is a veteran, as defined in section 197.447, and that has a 100 percent service connected disability as defined by the United States Veterans Administration upon being furnished satisfactory evidence. 

(b) A driver's license or Minnesota identification card bearing the designation under section 171.07, subdivision 15, paragraph (a), clause (2), serves as satisfactory evidence to obtain a license under this subdivision at all agent locations. 

Subd. 6a.Taking small game; disabled veterans. 
(a) A person authorized to issue licenses must issue, without a fee, a license to take small game to a resident who is a veteran, as defined in section 197.447, and who has a 100 percent service connected disability as defined by the United States Veterans Administration upon being furnished satisfactory evidence. 

(b) The commissioner, upon request, must issue a permanent card documenting satisfactory evidence of 100 percent permanently disabled status. 

(c) The following serve as satisfactory evidence to obtain a license under this subdivision at all agent locations: 

(1) a card issued under paragraph (b); or 

(2) a driver's license or Minnesota identification card bearing the designation under section 171.07, subdivision 15, paragraph (a), clause (2).