This bill amends Section 87-2-817 of the Montana Code Annotated to revise the licensing provisions for veterans and deployed armed service members. It allows veterans or disabled members of the armed forces who have a combat-connected injury to apply for specific deer and antelope licenses at half the regular fee, without these licenses counting against the special licenses reserved for individuals with permanent disabilities. Additionally, it provides that Montana residents who are members of the National Guard or federal reserve and have served at least two months outside the state in a contingency operation are entitled to a free resident conservation license and a fishing or combination sports license, contingent upon certain conditions and documentation.

The bill also includes a provision that guarantees members of the armed forces who have forfeited a license due to deployment for at least two months outside the state the right to obtain the same license or permit without an additional fee upon their return. The language has been updated to specify that the deployment must be for at least two months outside the state, replacing the previous requirement of deployment outside the continental United States. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the department's general license account be reimbursed quarterly from the general fund for costs associated with the free licenses granted to eligible service members.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 87-2-817
HB0244_1(1): 87-2-817
HB0244_1(10): 87-2-817
HB0244_1(11): 87-2-817
HB0244_1(12): 87-2-817
HB0244_1(2): 87-2-817
HB0244_1(3): 87-2-817
HB0244_1(4): 87-2-817
HB0244_1(5): 87-2-817
HB0244_1(6): 87-2-817
HB0244_1(7): 87-2-817
HB0244_1(8): 87-2-817
HB0244_1(9): 87-2-817
HB0244_1: 87-2-817
HB0244_X(1): 87-2-817
HB0244_X(2): 87-2-817
HB0244_X(3): 87-2-817
HB0244_X(4): 87-2-817
HB0244_X(5): 87-2-817
HB0244_X: 87-2-817