15-42-128. Lifetime hunting licenses and fishing licenses for resident disabled veterans — Definition.

15-42-128. Lifetime hunting licenses and fishing licenses for resident disabled veterans — Definition. (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, lifetime fishing licenses, and lifetime combination hunting and fishing licenses for eligible disabled veterans in this state. (b) The commission may establish for issuance lifetime hunting licenses, lifetime fishing licenses, and lifetime combination hunting and 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 been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be: (1) A one-hundred-percent totally and permanently disabled service-connected veteran; or (2) For purposes of subsection (f) of this section only, a disabled veteran who: (A) Has a service-connected disability rating of seventy percent (70%) or higher; or (B) Has a service-connected disability rating of fifty percent (50%) or higher and is a recipient of the Purple Heart medal. (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 commission; (2) Furnishing information required by the commission to verify eligibility; and (3) Paying 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 hunting license, lifetime fishing license, or lifetime combination hunting and fishing license 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) A disabled veteran may obtain a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license, which includes a lifetime trout stamp and a lifetime state duck stamp, under this section by: (1) Applying to the commission; (2) Furnishing information required by the commission to verify eligibility; and (3) Paying a fee of fifty-two dollars and fifty cents ($52.50). (g) The commission may promulgate rules as necessary to implement this section.