Assigned to NRRA                                                                                                                          FOR COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Forty-eighth Legislature, First Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1305

disabled veterans’ complimentary fishing licenses

Purpose

            Authorizes the Game and Fish Commission to issue a complimentary fishing license to any veteran who is classified as 70 percent disabled and who has been a resident of Arizona for at least one year.

Background

            The Game and Fish Commission (Commission) oversees the operation of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.  Current statute allows the Commission to issue a complimentary hunting and fishing license to a pioneer, a person who is at least 70-years-old and has lived in Arizona for at least 25 consecutive years, and to a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who has been a resident of Arizona for at least one year and who is receiving compensation from the United States Government for permanent, service-connected disabilities that are rated as 100 percent disabling.

            The Game and Fish Department issued 398 complimentary licenses in 2006 that are equivalent to a Class F license and an urban fishing license.  A Class F license is a combination general hunting and fishing license that is valid for the taking of most aquatic wildlife, small game, fur-bearing animals, predatory animals, nongame animals, nongame birds, upland game birds and migratory game birds, except ducks, geese and swans.  An urban fishing license allows for taking all aquatic wildlife from commission designated urban waters.  Game and Fish charges a fee of $54 for a Class F license and $18.50 for an urban fishing license.  S.B. 1305 would extend a complimentary Class A license (general fishing license), for which Game and Fish charges a fee of $23.50, to qualifying veterans.

            Service-connected disability compensation is a monthly payment made by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to a veteran with a physical or mental disability that was incurred in or aggravated by military service.  The rating schedule provides for ten grades of disability, from 10 percent to 100 percent, upon which compensation payments are based.

            The Game and Fish Department estimates a $39,000 reduction in revenues from the sale of licenses as a result of S.B. 1305 and an additional $19,000 reduction in federal matching dollars for a total estimated reduction of $58,000. 

Provisions

1. Allows the Game and Fish Commission to issue a complimentary fishing license to a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who:

a) has been a resident of Arizona for at least one year immediately preceding license application.

b) is receiving compensation from the U.S. Government for permanent, service-connected disabilities rated at least 70 percent disabling.

2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by Senate Research

January 29, 2007

MG/JO/ac