§ 17-332 — Form and content of license; duplicate licenses; transfer of license prohibited; exceptions; refunds; period of validity; definitions

A. Licenses and license materials shall be prepared by the department and may be furnished and charged to dealers that are authorized to issue licenses. Each license shall be issued in the name of the department and signed in a manner provided by rule adopted by the commission. With each license authorizing the taking of big game, the department shall provide such tags as the commission may prescribe, which the licensee shall attach to the big game animal in the manner prescribed by the commission. The commission may limit the number or use of licenses that are issued to nonresidents or permits that are issued to nonresidents and that are not issued in a random drawing. The commission shall limit the number of big game permits issued to nonresidents in a random drawing to ten percent or fewer of the total hunt permits, but in extraordinary circumstances, at a public meeting the commission may increase the number of permits issued to nonresidents in a random drawing if, on separate roll call votes, the members of the commission unanimously:

1. Support the finding of a specifically described extraordinary circumstance.

2. Adopt the increased number of nonresident permits for the hunt.

B. The commission shall issue with each license a shipping permit entitling the holder of the license to a shipment of game or fish as provided by article 4 of this chapter.

C. It is unlawful, except as provided by the commission, for any person to apply for or obtain in any one license year more than one original license permitting the taking of big game. A duplicate license or tag may be issued by the department or by a license dealer if the person requesting such a license or tag furnishes the information deemed necessary by the commission.

D. A license or permit is not transferable and may not be used by anyone except the person to whom the license or permit was issued, except that:

1. The commission may prescribe the manner and conditions of transferring and using permits and tags under this paragraph, including an application process for a qualified organization, to allow a person to transfer the person's big game permit or tag to a qualified organization for use by:

(a) A minor child who has a life-threatening medical condition or a permanent physical disability.

(b) A minor child whose parent was killed in action while serving in the armed forces of the United States.

(c) A minor child whose parent was killed in the course and scope of employment as a peace officer.

(d) A minor child whose parent was killed in the course and scope of employment as a professional firefighter who is a member of a state, federal, tribal, city, town, county, district or private fire department.

(e) A veteran of the armed forces of the United States who has a service-connected disability.

2. A parent, grandparent or legal guardian may allow the parent's, grandparent's or guardian's minor child or minor grandchild to use the parent's, grandparent's or guardian's big game permit or tag to take big game pursuant to the following requirements:

(a) The parent, grandparent or guardian must transfer the permit or tag to the minor child in a manner prescribed by the commission.

(b) The minor child must possess a valid hunting license.

(c) Any big game that is taken counts toward the minor child's bag limit.

E. A minor child who uses a big game permit or tag pursuant to subsection D of this section and is under fourteen years of age must satisfactorily complete the Arizona hunter education course or another comparable hunter education course that is approved by the director.

F. Refunds may not be made for the purchase of a license or permit, except that the commission may prescribe a manner of refunding the cost of a big game permit or tag to the following individuals:

1. An active duty member of the armed forces of the United States who is ordered to leave this state during the time period in which the big game permit or tag is valid for the taking of wildlife.

2. A peace officer who is assigned to special duty during the time period in which the big game permit or tag is valid for the taking of wildlife.

3. A professional firefighter who is a member of a state, federal, tribal, city, town, county, district or private fire department and who is assigned to special duty during the time period in which the big game permit or tag is valid for the taking of wildlife.

G. Licenses are valid for a license year as prescribed in rule by the commission. Lifetime licenses and benefactor licenses are valid for the lifetime of the licensee.

H. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Disability" means a permanent physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities and that requires the assistance of another person or a mechanical device for physical mobility.

2. "Qualified organization" means a nonprofit organization that is qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the United States internal revenue code and that affords opportunities and experiences to minor children with life threatening medical conditions or with physical disabilities, minor children whose parents were killed in action while serving in the armed forces of the United States or in the course and scope of employment as peace officers or professional firefighters or to veterans with disabilities.