1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to game and fish; exempting archery bows used 
  1.3             for bow fishing from casing requirement; authorizing 
  1.4             disability permits for taking rough fish and hunting 
  1.5             small game with a crossbow; amending Minnesota 
  1.6             Statutes 1998, sections 97B.051; 97B.055, subdivision 
  1.7             2; and 97B.106. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97B.051, is 
  1.10  amended to read: 
  1.11     97B.051 [TRANSPORTATION OF ARCHERY BOWS.] 
  1.12     Except as specified under section 97B.055, subdivision 2, a 
  1.13  person may not transport an archery bow in a motor vehicle 
  1.14  unless the bow is:  
  1.15     (1) unstrung; 
  1.16     (2) completely contained in a case; or 
  1.17     (3) in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle.  
  1.18     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97B.055, 
  1.19  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.20     Subd. 2.  [RESTRICTIONS RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLES.] A 
  1.21  person may not take a wild animal with a firearm or by archery 
  1.22  from a motor vehicle except as permitted in this section.  An 
  1.23  archer in a permitted bow fishing tournament A person may 
  1.24  transport the a bow uncased while in an electric motor-powered 
  1.25  boat and may take rough fish while in the boat. 
  1.26     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97B.106, is 
  2.1   amended to read: 
  2.2      97B.106 [CROSSBOW PERMITS FOR HUNTING AND FISHING.] 
  2.3      Subdivision 1.  [QUALIFICATIONS FOR CROSSBOW PERMITS.] (a) 
  2.4   The commissioner may issue a special permit, without a fee, to 
  2.5   take big game, small game, or turkey rough fish with a crossbow 
  2.6   to a person that is unable to hunt or take rough fish by archery 
  2.7   because of a permanent or temporary physical disability.  
  2.8      (b) To qualify a person for a special crossbow permit under 
  2.9   this section, a temporary disability must render the person 
  2.10  unable to hunt or fish by archery for a minimum of two years 
  2.11  after application for the permit is made.  The permanent or 
  2.12  temporary disability, must be established by medical evidence, 
  2.13  and the inability to hunt or fish by archery for the required 
  2.14  period of time must be verified in writing by a licensed 
  2.15  physician or chiropractor. 
  2.16     (c) The person must obtain the appropriate license.  
  2.17     Subd. 2.  [CROSSBOW EQUIPMENT AND REQUIREMENTS.] The (a) A 
  2.18  crossbow used for hunting under the provisions of this section 
  2.19  must:  
  2.20     (1) be fired from the shoulder; 
  2.21     (2) deliver at least 42 foot-pounds of energy at a distance 
  2.22  of ten feet; 
  2.23     (3) have a stock at least 30 inches long; 
  2.24     (4) have a working safety; and 
  2.25     (5) be used with arrows or bolts at least ten inches long 
  2.26  with a broadhead. 
  2.27     (b) An arrow or bolt used to take big game or turkey under 
  2.28  the provisions of this section must meet the legal arrowhead 
  2.29  requirements in section 97B.211, subdivision 2. 
  2.30     (c) An arrow or bolt used to take rough fish with a 
  2.31  crossbow under the provisions of this section must be tethered 
  2.32  or controlled by an attached line. 
  2.33     Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.34     This act is effective the day following final enactment.