SENIORS/DISABLED: HUNTING
AND FISHING LICENSES
House Bill 4868
Sponsor: Rep. Gloria Schermesser
Committee: Conservation and Outdoor
Recreation
Complete to 8-18-00
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4868 AS INTRODUCED 9-28-99
The bill would amend the National Resources and Environmental Protection Act to provide for free hunting and fishing licenses for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Senior Citizens. Currently, under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, seniors (defined as persons 65 years of age or older) may obtain small game, firearm deer, archery deer, bear hunting, wild turkey hunting, and fur harvester's licenses at a 60 percent discount. House Bill 4868 would amend the act to specify, instead, that hunting licenses would be free for seniors. The act also specifies that the 60 percent discount is not available for the purchase of a second firearm or a second archery deer license. The bill would delete this restriction. Similarly, the bill would provide for free daily, restricted, and all-species fishing licenses for seniors.
Person with disabilities: veterans and non-veterans. Currently, a senior hunting license or all-species fishing license is available to any resident who is legally blind. The bill would specify that this license would be free. In addition, any veteran who is permanently and totally disabled and who is entitled to full veteran benefits for a disability other than blindness is entitled to receive any senior hunting or fishing license. The bill would extend the latter provision to include any resident whom the Social Security Administration had determinated to be disabled, under the provisions of Section 1614, Part A, Title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 USC 1382c) for a disability other than blindness, and specify that the senior licenses available under the provision would be free.
MCL 324. 43526 et al.
Analyst: R. Young