RNK:sac:jf
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
February 17, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Jacque, Edming, Kleefisch,
Milroy, Mursau, Ripp, Skowronski, Tittl, Brandtjen, E. Brooks, R. Brooks,
Genrich, Horlacher, Knodl, Kremer, Krug, T. Larson, Murphy, Ohnstad,
Petryk, Rohrkaste, Sinicki and Thiesfeldt, cosponsored by Senators Roth,
Tiffany, Moulton, Cowles, Bewley, Gudex, Harsdorf, Lassa and Nass.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage.
AB44,1,5 1An Act to amend 29.179 (title), 29.179 (2) and 29.179 (4); and to create 29.179
2(1) (am), 29.179 (1) (c) and 29.179 (2m) of the statutes; relating to: transfer of
3certain fish and game approvals to persons with disabilities and the transfer
4of Class A bear licenses to persons awarded the Purple Heart or serving on
5active duty in the U.S. armed forces.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, with certain exceptions, a person who holds a hunting,
fishing, or trapping approval issued by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
may not transfer that approval to another person. Under one exception to this
general prohibition, the holder of certain approvals may transfer those approvals to
a person who is under 18 years of age (minor). Among the approvals that may be
transferred to a minor is a bonus deer hunting permit, a bobcat hunting and trapping
permit, a wild turkey hunting license, a Class A bear license, and a sturgeon spearing
license. The holder of the approval must apply to DNR to transfer the approval to
the minor and if the application is made within a specified period of time, the minor
has not been previously transferred that type of approval, and the minor is otherwise
eligible to use the approval, the approval may be transferred. Current law prohibits
the holder of an approval from receiving any payment for transfer of an approval.
Current law also provides that if the approval is one that is administered under a
cumulative preference system, the transferee retains all preference points that were
previously accumulated. DNR administers a cumulative preference system for

certain approvals where the number of applicants exceeds the number of approvals
available. The more preference points an applicant has, the higher the priority he
or she is given in the issuance of the approval.
This bill expands the exceptions to the general prohibition against the transfer
of approvals. The bill allows the transfer of the same approvals that may be
transferred to a minor under current law to be transferred to a person with a
disability. The bill defines such a person to be a person who has certain permanent
disabilities such as those that require the person to use a wheelchair; a person who
has certain temporary disabilities that restrict mobility; a person who has an
amputation or permanent substantial loss of his or her shoulder, arm, or hand; or a
person who is visually handicapped. Under the bill, the same requirements that
apply to the transfer of an approval to a minor under current law apply to the transfer
of an approval to a person with a disability.
This bill also allows a person who is issued a Class A bear license to transfer
that license to a person who was awarded a Purple Heart or to a person who is serving
on active duty in the U.S. armed forces (service member). Under the bill, the same
requirements that apply to the transfer of an approval to a minor under current law
apply to the transfer of a Class A bear license to a Purple Heart recipient or service
member.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB44,1 1Section 1. 29.179 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB44,2,2 229.179 (title) Transfer of approvals to minors and disabled persons.
AB44,2 3Section 2. 29.179 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB44,2,54 29.179 (1) (am) "Disabled person" means a person who holds a Class A, Class
5B, Class C, or Class D permit issued under s. 29.193.
AB44,3 6Section 3. 29.179 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB44,2,87 29.179 (1) (c) "Service member" means a person who is serving on active duty
8in the U.S. armed forces.
AB44,4 9Section 4. 29.179 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB44,3,910 29.179 (2) Application; generally. Upon application by a holder of an approval
11to transfer the approval to a minor or a disabled person, and upon the payment of any

1fee required under sub. (3), the department shall transfer the approval to the minor
2or the disabled person if the application is made no later than the 15 days
3immediately preceding the first day of the applicable open season and if the minor
4or the disabled person has not been previously transferred that type of approval
5under this section and if the minor or disabled person is otherwise eligible to use the
6approval. The department may transfer a sturgeon spearing license under this
7subsection only during the period beginning on the October 1st of each year and
8ending on the day that is the 15th day preceding the first day of the open season for
9the spearing of lake sturgeon that follows that October 1st.
AB44,5 10Section 5. 29.179 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB44,3,1811 29.179 (2m) Application; Class A bear license. Upon application by a holder
12of a Class A bear license to transfer the license to a person awarded the Purple Heart
13or to a service member, and upon the payment of any fee required under sub. (3), the
14department shall transfer the license to the person awarded the Purple Heart or the
15service member if the application is made no later than 15 days immediately
16preceding the open season for the hunting of bear to which the license applies and
17if the person awarded the Purple Heart or the service member has not been
18previously transferred a Class A bear license under this section.
AB44,6 19Section 6. 29.179 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB44,3,2320 29.179 (4) Notwithstanding ss. 29.164 (3) (cr), 29.177 (5) (b), 29.184 (6) (b), and
2129.192 (4), a minor person who is transferred an approval under this section shall
22retain all preference points that he or she has previously accumulated for that type
23of approval.
AB44,3,2424 (End)
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