STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 53rd Legislature (2012)

SENATE BILL 1591	By:	Sparks

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to hunting and fishing licenses; amending 29 O.S. 2011, Section 4-114, which relates to hunting, fishing, and combination hunting and fishing lifetime licenses; providing for the inheritance of certain lifetime licenses; requiring certain report; providing for certain reimbursement; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     29 O.S. 2011, Section 4-114, is amended to read as follows:
Section 4-114.  A.  All legal residents who have resided in the state for at least six (6) months may purchase lifetime fishing licenses, lifetime hunting licenses or lifetime combination hunting and fishing licenses from the State Wildlife Conservation Director.
B.  The fee for these licenses shall be:
1.  Lifetime fishing license, Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00);
2.  Lifetime hunting license, Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00);
3.  Lifetime combination hunting and fishing license, Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00);
4.  Senior citizen lifetime hunting license for persons sixty-five (65) years of age or older, Fifteen Dollars ($15.00);
5.  Senior citizen lifetime fishing license for persons sixty-five (65) years of age or older, Fifteen Dollars ($15.00); and
6.  Senior citizen lifetime combination hunting and fishing license for persons sixty-five (65) years of age or older, Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00).
C.  Legal resident having proper certification from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor certifying that the person is a disabled veteran may purchase a disability lifetime combination hunting and fishing license from the State Wildlife Conservation Director.  The fees for the license shall be as follows:
1.  Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for veterans having a disability of less than sixty percent (60%); and
2.  Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) for veterans having a disability of sixty percent (60%) or more.
D.  The use of the licenses provided in this section are subject to those restrictions provided by statute and the regulations of the Wildlife Conservation Commission.  Except as otherwise provided for in this section, each lifetime hunting license issued pursuant to subsections B and C of this section shall be in lieu of all annual hunting licenses and all special season permits.
E.  Should any lifetime license be lost or destroyed, a duplicate will be issued by the Department of Wildlife Conservation for a fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00).
F.  A lifetime licensee shall not lose the privileges of such license by a subsequent transfer of residency.
G.  1.  In addition to the fees imposed pursuant to paragraphs 1 through 3 of subsection B of this section, a person purchasing a lifetime fishing, hunting or combination license, excluding a senior citizen lifetime hunting, fishing or combination hunting and fishing license issued pursuant to paragraphs 4 through 6 of subsection B of this section and a disability lifetime combination hunting and fishing license issued pursuant to subsection C of this section, shall be required to purchase a Lifetime Oklahoma Wildlife Land Stamp.  Each person shall have the stamp in their possession while hunting, fishing, or taking any wildlife.  The fee for the Lifetime Oklahoma Wildlife Land Stamp shall be Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00).  The fee for the stamp shall be distributed as follows:
a.	Twenty Dollars ($20.00) from each stamp shall be deposited in the Oklahoma Wildlife Land Fund, created in Section 4-141 of this title, to be used to retire the obligations and related expenses as authorized pursuant to Section 168.9 of Title 73 of the Oklahoma Statutes or to purchase, lease, or purchase easements on real property to be used as public hunting, fishing, and trapping areas, and
b.	Five Dollars ($5.00) from each stamp shall be deposited in the Oklahoma Wildlife Land Fund, created in Section 4-141 of this title, to be used by the Commission for management of the real property acquired pursuant to Section 168.9 of Title 73 of the Oklahoma Statutes or acquired with proceeds from the Oklahoma Wildlife Land Stamp fee.
2.  The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission shall prescribe, by rule, the form, design, and manner of issuance of the Lifetime Oklahoma Wildlife Land Stamp.
3.  Within one (1) year of the final retirement, redemption, or defeasance of the obligations created pursuant to Section 168.9 of Title 73 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the Lifetime Oklahoma Wildlife Land Stamp and Lifetime Oklahoma Wildlife Land Stamp fee requirements provided for in this subsection shall terminate.
H.  A person who is sixty-four (64) years of age shall be eligible to purchase a senior citizen lifetime license issued pursuant to paragraphs 4 through 6 of subsection B of this section during the calendar year in which the person turns sixty-five (65) years of age.
I.  The fee for a lifetime fishing license, a lifetime hunting license, or a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license issued pursuant to paragraphs 1 through 3 of subsection B of this section for a legal resident under eighteen (18) years of age may be paid for by installments not to exceed a three-year period of time and in a manner determined by the Director.  The lifetime license shall not be issued and become valid until full payment is received by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.  If the entire amount of the license fee is not received within three (3) years from the date the application for installment payments is submitted to the Department, all funds received shall be forfeited and shall not be refunded.
J.  All lineal descendants of a hunting, fishing or combination hunting and fishing lifetime licensee who died in the line of duty during a wartime operation shall inherit the lifetime license.  The Department shall calculate the revenue lost due to any inherited licenses in the previous fiscal year and report that amount to the State Board of Equalization by November 30 of each calendar year.  At its meeting in December 2014, and December of each subsequent year, held pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 1 of Section 23 of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution, the State Board of Equalization shall determine the total amount of revenue necessary to reimburse the Department for the fiscal year that ended June 30 of that year and subtract such amount from the amount it certifies as available for appropriation from the General Revenue Fund by the Legislature for the upcoming fiscal year.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2012.

53-2-2662	JM	1/19/2012 11:48:10 AM