1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to game and fish; allowing use of night vision equipment while hunting 
1.3 	coyote or fox; establishing civil penalties;amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, 
1.4 	sections 97A.421, by adding a subdivision; 97B.086.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 97A.421, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.7 	to read:
1.8 		Subd. 3b. Issuance after conviction; night vision or thermal imaging equipment. (a) 
1.9 	A person who is convicted of a violation under paragraph (b) and possessed night vision or 
1.10 	thermal imaging equipment may not obtain a hunting license or hunt wild animals for five 
1.11 	years from the date of conviction.
1.12 	(b) The revocation under this subdivision applies to convictions of:
1.13 	(1) trespass;
1.14 	(2) hunting game in closed season; or
1.15 	(3) hunting game before or after legal shooting hours.

1.16 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 97B.086, is amended to read:
1.17 	97B.086 POSSESSING NIGHT VISION OR THERMAL IMAGING EQUIPMENT.
1.18 	(a) A person may not possess night vision or thermal imaging equipment while taking 
1.19 	wild animals or while having in possession, either individually or as one of a group of 
1.20 	persons, a firearm, bow, or other implement that could be used to take wild animals.
1.21 	(b) This section does not apply to a firearm that is:
2.1 	(1) unloaded;
2.2 	(2) in a gun case expressly made to contain a firearm that fully encloses the firearm by 
2.3 	being zipped, snapped, buckled, tied, or otherwise fastened without any portion of the 
2.4 	firearm exposed; and
2.5 	(3) in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle.
2.6 	(c) This section does not apply to a bow that is:
2.7 	(1) completely encased or unstrung; and
2.8 	(2) in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle.
2.9 	(d) If the motor vehicle under paragraph (b) or (c) does not have a trunk, the firearm or 
2.10 	bow must be placed in the rearmost location of the vehicle.
2.11 	(e) This section does not apply to night vision or thermal imaging equipment possessed 
2.12 	by:
2.13 	(1) peace officers or military personnel while exercising their duties; or
2.14 	(2) a person taking coyote or fox as provided under section 97B.075 and rules adopted 
2.15 	under section 97B.605.