SF4937

Purpose

• Create a process to identify a special permit that allows a person with a permanent physical disability to discharge a firearm or bow and arrow from a stationary motor vehicle while hunting. The permit would be noted on the holder’s driver’s license or Minnesota identification card.

Main Provisions

• Special permit for disabled hunters:
  • Free of charge.
  • Available to people with a permanent physical disability that is more substantial than typical walking difficulty.
  • Eligibility criteria include being unable to step from a vehicle without aid (wheelchair, crutches, braces, prosthetic, etc.) or being unable to walk any distance due to a chronic disease requiring supplemental oxygen.
  • Medical proof is required, verified in writing by a licensed physician, chiropractor, advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), or licensed physician assistant (PA).
  • The commission may request additional information to verify eligibility.
  • The commission, in consultation with advocacy groups, may set reasonable minimum standards for permits.
  • The holder must also have a valid disability parking certificate or license plates.
  • The permit to hunt from a vehicle may be used to hunt deer in general, with some exceptions noted below.
  • A permit is valid for five years.
  • The commissioner may deny, modify, suspend, or revoke a permit for cause, including violations of game and fish laws or rules.
  • Fraudulent applications or assistance with fraudulent applications are misdemeanors. Fraudulent medical certification by a physician, APRN, PA, or chiropractor is also a misdemeanor.
• Lifetime permit option:
  • The commissioner may issue a permit that lasts the applicant’s lifetime if there is no chance the applicant will become ineligible and the applicant requests it.
  • If a lifetime permit is suspended or revoked, the commissioner must notify the public safety office so the person’s driver’s license or Minnesota ID can reflect the status.
• Hunting from the vehicle:
  • The permit allows hunting deer (either sex) with the vehicle-mounted discharge, with the usual caveat that in antlerless-only areas or seasons where no antlerless permits are offered, the standard antlerless rules apply.
  • The permit does not authorize another person in the same party to take an antlerless deer under a different provision.

Interaction with Existing Law

• Amends Minnesota Statutes to add a new subdivision related to hunting from a vehicle by disabled hunters.
• Requires the disabled-hunter permit to be shown on driver’s licenses or Minnesota IDs (per 171.07 provisions).
• References existing disability-related statutes (e.g., disability parking certificates, license plates) and aligns with them for eligibility.

Eligibility, Verification, and Standards

• Eligibility hinges on a permanent physical disability verified by medical professionals.
• Medical verification must be in writing and may be supplemented by the commission with additional information.
• The commission may set minimum standards for who qualifies, in consultation with advocacy groups.

Penalties and Oversight

• False applications and fraudulent certification carry misdemeanor penalties.
• The commission has authority to deny, modify, suspend, or revoke permits for cause, including violations of game and fish laws.
• If a lifetime permit is suspended or revoked, the commission must notify public safety to update driver’s licenses or IDs accordingly.

Significance and Impact

• Expands hunting options for certain disabled individuals by allowing shooting from a stationary vehicle.
• Creates a formal, identifiable process tied to existing identification documents.
• Introduces a potential lifetime permit, increasing permanence for qualifying hunters.
• Includes safety and integrity safeguards (medical verification, standards, penalties for fraud, and revocation provisions).

Relevant Terms - permanent physical disability - special permit - discharge a firearm or bow and arrow from a stationary motor vehicle - hunting from vehicle - deer (sex and antler considerations) - antlerless permit areas - five years - lifetime permit - disability parking certificate - license plates - driver’s license - Minnesota identification card - medical evidence - licensed physician - chiropractor - advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) - licensed physician assistant (PA) - advocacy groups - game and fish laws - misdemeanor - revocation - authorization/identification on licenses or IDs