(a) The General Assembly finds and determines that:
(1) The regulation of hunting and fishing, and the issuance of hunting licenses and fishing licenses, in the state is a primary responsibility of the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission under Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 35;
(2) Disabled veterans of Arkansas deserve to be recognized and honored for their service and sacrifice in honorably serving the nation and this state;
(3) The establishment and issuance of lifetime hunting licenses and lifetime fishing licenses in this state is a small way to recognize and honor the service of disabled veterans in this state; and
(4) It is the purpose and intent of this section to authorize and encourage the commission to establish and issue lifetime hunting licenses and lifetime fishing licenses for eligible disabled veterans in this state.
(b) The commission may establish for issuance lifetime hunting and lifetime fishing licenses for eligible disabled veterans in this state.
(c) As used in this section, "disabled veteran" means a veteran who is a resident of the state and has either:
(1) Been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be a one hundred percent (100%) totally and permanently disabled service-connected veteran; or
(2) Been determined by the department to be a permanently disabled service-connected veteran who is the recipient of the Purple Heart medal as a result of his or her service-connected disability.
(d) A disabled veteran may obtain a lifetime license to hunt or a lifetime license to fish under this section by:
(1) Applying to the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission;
(2) Furnishing information required by the commission to verify eligibility; and
(3) Payment of the following fees:
(A) One dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) for a lifetime hunting license; and
(B) One dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) for a lifetime fishing license.
(e) A lifetime license to hunt or a lifetime license to fish issued under this section shall:
(1) Be in the same form and contain the same information as other hunting licenses or fishing licenses issued by the commission;
(2) Contain any other information required by the commission; and
(3) Be plainly stamped either:
(A) "DISABLED VETERAN"; or
(B) "DISABLED VETERAN -- PURPLE HEART".
(f) The commission may promulgate such rules and regulations as necessary to carry out the intent of this section.
Section: Previous 15-42-104 15-42-105 15-42-106 15-42-107 15-42-108 15-42-110 15-42-122 15-42-123 15-42-124 15-42-125 15-42-126 15-42-127 15-42-128 15-42-129 NextLast modified: November 15, 2016