SF 2586

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; exempting certain snowmobiles from snowmobile
state trail sticker requirements; reducing certain game and fish license fees
for persons age 65 and older; allowing the use of scopes on muzzleloaders;
modifying restrictions on leaving decoys overnight; amending Minnesota Statutes
2004, section 97A.475, subdivisions 6, 20; Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement,
sections 84.8205, subdivision 1; 97B.031, subdivision 5; 97B.811, subdivision 3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 84.8205, subdivision 1,
is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Sticker required; fee.

new text begin (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), new text end a
person may not operate a snowmobile on a state or grant-in-aid snowmobile trail unless a
snowmobile state trail sticker is affixed to the snowmobile. The commissioner of natural
resources shall issue a sticker upon application and payment of a $15 fee. The fee for a
three-year snowmobile state trail sticker that is purchased at the time of snowmobile
registration is $30. In addition to other penalties prescribed by law, a person in violation
of this subdivision must purchase an annual state trail sticker for a fee of $30. The sticker
is valid from November 1 through April 30. Fees collected under this section, except for
the issuing fee for licensing agents under this section and for the electronic licensing
system commission established by the commissioner under section 84.027, subdivision
15, shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the snowmobile trails and
enforcement account in the natural resources fund and must be used for grants-in-aid, trail
maintenance, grooming, and easement acquisition.

new text begin (b) A state trail sticker is not required under this section for:
new text end

new text begin (1) a snowmobile that is owned by the United States, the state of Minnesota, or a
political subdivision of the state; or
new text end

new text begin (2) a collector snowmobile that is operated as provided in a special permit issued for
the collector snowmobile under section 84.82, subdivision 7a.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97A.475, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Resident fishing.

Fees for the following licenses, to be issued to residents
only, are:

(1) new text begin for persons under age 65 new text end to take fish by angling, $17;

(2) new text begin for persons age 65 or over to take fish by angling, $8.50;
new text end

new text begin (3) new text end to take fish by angling, for a combined license for a married couple, $25;

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end to take fish by spearing from a dark house, $17; and

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end to take fish by angling for a 24-hour period selected by the licensee, $8.50.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97A.475, subdivision 20, is amended to read:

Subd. 20.

Trapping license.

The fee for a license to trap fur-bearing animals is:

(1) for residents over age 13 and under age 18, $6;

(2) for residents age 18 deleted text begin and older deleted text end new text begin or over and under age 65 new text end , $20; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(3) new text begin for residents age 65 or over, $10; and
new text end

new text begin (4) new text end for nonresidents, $73.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 97B.031, subdivision 5, is
amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Scopes new text begin on muzzleloaders new text end deleted text begin ; visually impaired hunters deleted text end .

deleted text begin (a)
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the commissioner may issue a special
permit, without a fee, to deleted text end new text begin A person may new text end use a muzzleloader with a scope to take deer
during the muzzleloader season deleted text begin to a person who obtains the required licenses and who has
a visual impairment. The scope may not have magnification capabilities deleted text end .

deleted text begin (b) The visual impairment must be to the extent that the applicant is unable
to identify targets and the rifle sights at the same time without a scope. The visual
impairment and specific conditions must be established by medical evidence verified in
writing by a licensed physician, ophthalmologist, or optometrist. The commissioner
may request additional information from the physician if needed to verify the applicant's
eligibility for the permit.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) A permit issued under this subdivision may be valid for up to five years, based
on the permanence of the visual impairment as determined by the licensed physician,
ophthalmologist, or optometrist.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (d) The permit must be in the immediate possession of the permittee when hunting
under the special permit.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (e) The commissioner may deny, modify, suspend, or revoke a permit issued under
this subdivision for cause, including a violation of the game and fish laws or rules.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (f) A person who knowingly makes a false application or assists another in making
a false application for a permit under this subdivision is guilty of a misdemeanor. A
physician, ophthalmologist, or optometrist who fraudulently certifies to the commissioner
that a person is visually impaired as described in this subdivision is guilty of a
misdemeanor.
deleted text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 97B.811, subdivision 3, is
amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Restrictions on leaving decoys unattended.

During the open season
for waterfowl, a person may not leave decoys in public waters between sunset and one
hour before lawful shooting hours or leave decoys unattended during other times for
more than four consecutive hours unless:

(1) the decoys are in waters adjacent to private land under the control of the hunter;
and

(2) there is not natural new text begin emergent new text end vegetation growing in water deleted text begin sufficient to partially
conceal a hunter deleted text end new text begin covering at least 50 percent of the surface area around the decoys new text end .