(1) This section applies to all recreational licenses and permits and to any authorization numbers issued by the commission for the use of such recreational licenses or permits.
(2) The commission shall establish forms for the issuance of recreational licenses and permits.
(3) The commission shall issue a license, permit, or authorization number to take wild animal life, freshwater aquatic life, or marine life when an applicant provides proof that she or he is entitled to such license, permit, or authorization number. Each applicant for a recreational license, permit, or authorization number shall provide her or his social security number on the application form. Disclosure of social security numbers obtained through this requirement shall be limited to the purposes of administration of the Title IV-D program for child support enforcement, use by the commission, and as otherwise provided by law.
(4) Licenses and permits to take wild animal life, freshwater aquatic life, or marine life may be sold by the commission, by any tax collector in the state, or by any subagent authorized under s. 379.3511.
(5) In addition to any license or permit fee, the sum of $1.50 shall be charged for each license or management area permit, except for replacement licenses, to cover the cost of issuing such license or permit. This charge does not apply to the shoreline fishing license; however, for each shoreline fishing license issued, the tax collector may retain 50 cents from other license proceeds otherwise due the commission.
(6)(a) The fee established pursuant to subsection (5) shall be distributed as follows:
1. For each hunting license and freshwater fishing license sold by a tax collector, including the combination freshwater fishing and hunting license, the sportsman’s license, and the gold sportsman’s license, a tax collector may retain $1.00.
2. For each management area permit sold by a tax collector, a tax collector may retain $1.00.
3. For each saltwater fishing tag and saltwater fishing license sold by a tax collector, including the combination saltwater fishing and freshwater fishing license and the combination saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, and hunting license, a tax collector may retain $1.50.
4. For licenses and management area permits sold by subagents, a tax collector may retain 50 cents for each license sold in the tax collector’s county.
5. Any and all remaining fees shall be deposited in the State Game Trust Fund and shall be used to support an automated license system and administration of the license program.
(b) Tax collectors shall remit license and permit revenue to the commission weekly.
(7)(a) The sum of $10 shall be charged for each replacement lifetime license and $2 for all other replacement licenses and permits. A tax collector may retain $1.00 for each replacement license.
(b) Fees collected from the issuance of replacement licenses shall be deposited in the State Game Trust Fund.
(8) At each location where hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses or permits are sold, voter registration applications shall be displayed and made available to the public. Subagents shall ask each person who applies for a hunting, fishing, or trapping license or permit if he or she would like a voter registration application and may provide such application to the license or permit applicant but shall not assist such persons with voter registration applications or collect complete or incomplete voter registration applications.
(9) Except as provided in subsections (8) and (12), each person who applies for a hunting, fishing, or trapping license or permit shall be asked if he or she would like the appropriate supervisor of elections to provide a voter registration application to the applicant at a later date. If at the time a license is purchased the applicant indicates that he or she would like to receive a voter registration application, the commission shall, within 7 days, make the request available to the appropriate supervisor of elections or voter registration agency so that an application may be sent to the applicant. Supervisors of elections shall mail an application to each person requesting such application within 5 business days after receipt of the request.
(10) The commission may satisfy the requirements of subsection (9) by providing access to an Internet site with the voter registration information included thereon.
(11) When acting in its official capacity pursuant to this section, neither the commission nor a subagent is deemed a third-party registration organization, as defined in s. 97.021, or a voter registration agency, as defined in s. 97.021, and is not authorized to solicit, accept, or collect voter registration applications or provide voter registration services.
(12) Each person who applies for a hunting, fishing, or trapping license or permit on the Internet shall be provided a link to the Department of State’s online uniform statewide voter registration application.
(13) The commission, any tax collector in this state, or any subagent authorized to sell licenses and permits under s. 379.3511 may request and collect donations when selling a recreational license or permit authorized under s. 379.354. All donations collected under this subsection shall be deposited into the State Game Trust Fund to be used solely for the purpose of enhancing youth hunting and youth freshwater and saltwater fishing programs. By January 1, the commission shall provide a complete and detailed annual report on the status of its youth programs and activities performed under this subsection to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(14) The commission is authorized to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this section.
History.—s. 18, ch. 72-404; s. 2, ch. 85-235; s. 6, ch. 86-158; s. 2, ch. 87-261; s. 44, ch. 89-175; s. 11, ch. 90-243; s. 1, ch. 91-58; s. 3, ch. 91-78; s. 16, ch. 93-268; s. 574, ch. 95-148; s. 12, ch. 96-300; s. 15, ch. 98-397; s. 160, ch. 99-13; s. 36, ch. 2000-362; ss. 13, 14, ch. 2002-46; s. 54, ch. 2003-399; s. 17, ch. 2005-3; ss. 2, 3, ch. 2006-95; s. 15, ch. 2007-223; s. 137, ch. 2008-247; s. 2, ch. 2010-146; s. 31, ch. 2010-167.
Note.—Former s. 372.561.
Structure Florida Statutes
Title XXVIII - Natural Resources; Conservation, Reclamation, and Use
Chapter 379 - Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Part VI - Licenses for Recreational Activities (Ss. 379.35-379.359)
379.35 - Review of fees for licenses and permits; review of exemptions.
379.3501 - Expiration of licenses and permits.
379.3502 - License and permit not transferable.
379.3503 - False statement in application for license or permit.
379.3504 - Entering false information on licenses or permits.
379.353 - Recreational licenses and permits; exemptions from fees and requirements.
379.354 - Recreational licenses, permits, and authorization numbers; fees established.
379.357 - Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission license program for tarpon; fees; penalties.
379.3581 - Hunter safety course; requirements; penalty.
379.3582 - Hunter safety course for juveniles.
379.359 - License application provision for voluntary contribution to Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc.