GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 331

Short Title:  Disabled Hunting/Fishing Exemptions.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives McCombs; Arnold, Barbee, Brawley, Buchanan, Cansler, Church, Dockham, Gardner, Hill, Howard, Hunt, McCrary, McMahan, G. Miller, Miner, Mitchell, Nichols, Preston, Watson, Weatherly, C. Wilson, and G. Wilson.

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Referred to:  State Government.

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March 1, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ALLOW DISABLED PERSONS TO APPLY TO THE WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION FOR HUNTING AND FISHING METHODS EXEMPTIONS TO PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THEIR DISABILITIES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Article 22 of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 113-297.  Method exemptions for disabled persons.
(a)	Any person whose physical disability makes it impossible for the person to hunt or fish by conventional methods for one year or more may apply to the Wildlife Resources Commission for a hunting or fishing methods exemption allowing that person to hunt or fish in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited by rules adopted by the Commission.  The application shall be accompanied by a signed statement from a physician containing the following information:
(1)	The nature of the person's disability;
(2) 	The necessity of the exemption in order to allow the person to hunt or fish; and
(3)	Whether the disability is permanent or temporary and, if temporary, the length of time after which the physician anticipates that the person may be able to hunt or fish without the exemption.
The Wildlife Resources Commission may authorize any reasonable exemption in order to permit a disabled person complying with the requirements of this section to hunt or fish and may issue a permit describing the exemption made in each case.   The permit may be permanent or, if the disability is temporary, the permit may coincide with the length of time the signed physician's statement indicates the disability is expected to last.  A person issued a permit under this section shall possess the permit while hunting or fishing in the exempted manner.
(b)	In addition to providing disabled persons reasonable exemptions from rules adopted by the Wildlife Resources Commission, the Commission may permit a person complying with the application procedure outlined in subsection (a) of this section to use a crossbow or other specially equipped bow if the physician's statement indicates that the person is incapable of arm movement sufficient to operate a longbow, recurve bow, or compound bow."
Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1995.