The bill aims to revise hunting licensing laws for individuals under 18 years of age, specifically allowing the issuance of a free special permit license for elk, deer, or antelope to minors diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. This special permit can be granted if the youth is recommended by a Montana charity or nonprofit organization and is supported by documentation from a licensed physician. The bill outlines that the special permit license may be issued on a one-time basis for a single hunting season and establishes that the youth must be accompanied by an adult with a valid Montana hunting license while hunting.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to include specific provisions for the issuance of these special permits, including caps on the number of licenses issued annually (up to 25 for life-threatening illnesses and specific limits for elk, deer, and antelope). It also allows for the waiver of hunter safety and education requirements for qualified youths and mandates the department to adopt necessary rules for implementation. The amendments to Sections 87-2-105 and 87-2-805 of the Montana Code Annotated reflect these changes, including the insertion of new language regarding the special permit licenses and the conditions under which they may be issued.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_1(1): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_1(10): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_1(11): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_1(2): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_1(3): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_1(4): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_1(5): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_1(6): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_1(7): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_1(8): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_1(9): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_1: 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(1): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(10): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(11): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(12): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(13): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(14): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(15): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(16): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(2): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(3): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(4): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(5): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(6): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(7): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(8): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X(9): 87-2-105, 87-2-805
HB0817_X: 87-2-105, 87-2-805