MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Wildlife and Fisheries

By: Senator(s) Tollison

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY PERSON ADJUDGED TOTALLY DISABLED BY THE U.S. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM HUNTING LICENSE FEES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 49-7-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-5. (1) * * * Any resident, as defined in Section 49-7-3, upon application, shall receive:

(a) A combination resident hunting and fishing license for the sum of Seventeen Dollars ($17.00). Under this license * * * the licensee * * * may take fish and game * * *, including deer and turkey * * *.

(b) * * * A resident combination small game hunting and fishing license for the sum of Thirteen Dollars ($13.00) * * *. * * * Under this license, * * * the licensee * * * may take fish * * * and game * * *, except deer and turkey * * *.

(c) * * * A resident small game license * * * for * * * the sum of Thirteen Dollars ($13.00) * * *. * * * Under this license, * * * the * * * licensee may take game * * *, except deer and turkey * * *.

(d) * * * A sportsman's license for the sum of Thirty-two Dollars ($32.00). Under this license, * * * the licensee may take fish and * * * game * * *, including deer and turkey, * * * and may hunt with primitive weapons and bow and arrow * * *. The commission may notify the licensee of the expiration of his license, and the licensee may renew the license by mailing the fee to the commission. A licensee who has not renewed the license within thirty (30) days after the expiration date shall be removed from the commission's records, and the licensee must apply to be placed on the renewal list.

(2) (a) Any resident * * * of the State of Mississippi who has not reached the age of sixteen (16) years or who has reached the age of sixty-five (65) years, or any resident * * * who is blind, paraplegic, or a multiple amputee, or who has been adjudged by the Veterans Administration as having a total service-connected disability, or has been adjudged to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration or U.S. Civil Service Commission shall not be required to purchase or have in his possession, a hunting or fishing license while engaged in such activities. A person exempt * * * under this section, shall have in his possession and on his person proof of * * * age, residency, disability status or other respective physical impairment while engaged in * * * hunting or fishing.

(b) All exempt hunting and fishing licenses previously issued for disabilities shall be null and void effective July 1, 1993.

(3) No license shall be required of a resident to hunt, fish or trap on lands in which the record title is vested in that person.

(4) Any person or persons exempt under this section from procuring a license shall be subject to and must comply with all other * * * provisions of this chapter.

(5) Any person authorized to issue any license under this section may collect and retain for the issuance of each license the additional fee authorized under Section 49-7-17.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.