00                            SENATE BILL NO. 286                                                                         
01 "An Act relating to the issuance of complimentary fishing and hunting licenses and                                      
02 certain tags; providing for the issuance of complimentary fishing and hunting licenses to                               
03 certain members of the Alaska National Guard returning from active duty deployment;                                     
04 and providing for an effective date."                                                                                   
05 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
06    * Section 1.  AS 16.05.335 is amended to read:                                                                     
07            Sec. 16.05.335. Complimentary licenses and tags. The commissioner shall                                  
08       annually, at the request of the governor, provide the governor with not more than 50                              
09       complimentary fishing and hunting licenses, king salmon tags, and appropriate big                             
10       game tags which the governor may distribute to distinguished visitors to the state for                            
11       their use in any one season during their visits to the state. The complimentary license                           
12       for sport fishing or hunting or both shall be inscribed by the governor with the                                  
13       inclusive dates for its authorized use. The governor shall advise the department on any                           
14       complimentary issuances, which information shall be available to the public.                                      

01    * Sec. 2. AS 16.05.335 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                              
02            (b)  The commissioner shall, at the request of the governor, authorize the                                   
03       issuance, by the department or by agents appointed under AS 16.05.380, of a                                       
04       complimentary license for sport fishing or hunting, or both, to qualified members of                              
05       the Alaska National Guard. To qualify for a complimentary license under this                                      
06       subsection, a member of the Alaska National Guard must produce to the department or                               
07       agent the member's United States Department of Defense certificate of release or                                  
08       discharge from active duty and the member's deployment orders demonstrating that                                  
09       the member was called to active duty and deployed for 30 or more consecutive days                                 
10       for the purpose of fighting in, or providing direct support for, a national conflict                              
11       outside the United States. However, a member who was so deployed for less than 30                                 
12       consecutive days due to an injury related to the member's deployment is qualified for                             
13       the complimentary license if the member provides documentation to verify that status.                             
14       The complimentary license for sport fishing or hunting, or both, is valid for the license                         
15       year in which the member is no longer in deployed status and returns to the state, or                             
16       for the subsequent license year. Information pertaining to complimentary licenses                                 
17       issued under this subsection shall be available to the public.                                                    
18    * Sec. 3. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).