PUBLIC LAW 113–239—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 2847 

Public Law 113–239 

113th Congress 

An Act 

To grant the Secretary of the Interior permanent authority to authorize States 

to issue electronic duck stamps, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Permanent Electronic Duck 

Stamp Act of 2013’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) ACTUAL STAMP.—The term ‘‘actual stamp’’ means a Federal migratory-bird hunting and conservation stamp required 

under the Act of March 16, 1934 (16 U.S.C. 718a et seq.) 

(popularly known as the ‘‘Duck Stamp Act’’), that is printed 

on paper and sold through the means established by the 

authority of the Secretary immediately before the date of enactment of this Act. 

(2) AUTOMATED LICENSING SYSTEM.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘automated licensing 

system’’ means an electronic, computerized licensing system 

used by a State fish and wildlife agency to issue hunting, 

fishing, and other associated licenses and products. 

(B) INCLUSION.—The term ‘‘automated licensing 

system’’ includes a point-of-sale, Internet, telephonic 

system, or other electronic applications used for a purpose 

described in subparagraph (A). 

(3) ELECTRONIC STAMP.—The term ‘‘electronic stamp’’ 

means an electronic version of an actual stamp that— 

(A) is a unique identifier for the individual to whom 

it is issued; 

(B) can be printed on paper or produced through an 

electronic application with the same indicators as the State 

endorsement provides; 

(C) is issued through a State automated licensing 

system that is authorized, under State law and by the 

Secretary under this Act, to issue electronic stamps; 

(D) is compatible with the hunting licensing system 

of the State that issues the electronic stamp; and 

(E) is described in the State application approved by 

the Secretary under section 4(b). 

(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of the Interior. 

16 USC 718o. 

16 USC 718o 

note. 

Permanent 

Electronic Duck 

Stamp Act of 

2013. 

Dec. 18, 2014 

[H.R. 1206] 


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128 STAT. 2848 PUBLIC LAW 113–239—DEC. 18, 2014 

SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE ELECTRONIC DUCK STAMPS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may authorize any State to 

issue electronic stamps in accordance with this Act. 

(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall implement this section 

in consultation with State management agencies. 

SEC. 4. STATE APPLICATION. 

(a) APPROVAL OF APPLICATION REQUIRED.—The Secretary may 

not authorize a State to issue electronic stamps under this Act 

unless the Secretary has received and approved an application 

submitted by the State in accordance with this section. The Secretary may determine the number of new States per year to participate in the electronic stamp program. 

(b) CONTENTS OF APPLICATION.—The Secretary may not approve 

a State application unless the application contains— 

(1) a description of the format of the electronic stamp 

that the State will issue under this Act, including identifying 

features of the licensee that will be specified on the stamp; 

(2) a description of any fee the State will charge for 

issuance of an electronic stamp; 

(3) a description of the process the State will use to account 

for and transfer to the Secretary the amounts collected by 

the State that are required to be transferred to the Secretary 

under the program; 

(4) the manner by which the State will transmit electronic 

stamp customer data to the Secretary; 

(5) the manner by which actual stamps will be delivered; 

(6) the policies and procedures under which the State will 

issue duplicate electronic stamps; and 

(7) such other policies, procedures, and information as may 

be reasonably required by the Secretary. 

(c) PUBLICATION OF DEADLINES, ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, 

AND SELECTION CRITERIA.—Not later than 30 days before the date 

on which the Secretary begins accepting applications under this 

section, the Secretary shall publish— 

(1) deadlines for submission of applications; 

(2) eligibility requirements for submitting applications; and 

(3) criteria for approving applications. 

SEC. 5. STATE OBLIGATIONS AND AUTHORITIES. 

(a) DELIVERY OF ACTUAL STAMP.—The Secretary shall require 

that each individual to whom a State sells an electronic stamp 

under this Act shall receive an actual stamp— 

(1) by not later than the date on which the electronic 

stamp expires under section 6(c); and 

(2) in a manner agreed upon by the State and Secretary. 

(b) COLLECTION AND TRANSFER OF ELECTRONIC STAMP REVENUE

AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION.— 

(1) REQUIREMENT TO TRANSMIT.—The Secretary shall 

require each State authorized to issue electronic stamps to 

collect and submit to the Secretary in accordance with this 

section— 

(A) the first name, last name, and complete mailing 

address of each individual that purchases an electronic 

stamp from the State; 

(B) the face value amount of each electronic stamp 

sold by the State; and 

Deadline. 

16 USC 718r. 

16 USC 718q. 

16 USC 718p. 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–239—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 2849 

(C) the amount of the Federal portion of any fee 

required by the agreement for each stamp sold. 

(2) TIME OF TRANSMITTAL.—The Secretary shall require 

the submission under paragraph (1) to be made with respect 

to sales of electronic stamps by a State according to the written 

agreement between the Secretary and the State agency. 

(3) ADDITIONAL FEES NOT AFFECTED.—This section shall 

not apply to the State portion of any fee collected by a State 

under subsection (c). 

(c) ELECTRONIC STAMP ISSUANCE FEE.—A State authorized to 

issue electronic stamps may charge a reasonable fee to cover costs 

incurred by the State and the Department of the Interior in issuing 

electronic stamps under this Act, including costs of delivery of 

actual stamps. 

(d) DUPLICATE ELECTRONIC STAMPS.—A State authorized to 

issue electronic stamps may issue a duplicate electronic stamp 

to replace an electronic stamp issued by the State that is lost 

or damaged. 

(e) LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE PURCHASE OF STATE

LICENSE.—A State may not require that an individual purchase 

a State hunting license as a condition of issuing an electronic 

stamp under this Act. 

SEC. 6. ELECTRONIC STAMP REQUIREMENTS; RECOGNITION OF ELECTRONIC STAMP. 

(a) STAMP REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall require an electronic stamp issued by a State under this Act— 

(1) to have the same format as any other license, validation, 

or privilege the State issues under the automated licensing 

system of the State; and 

(2) to specify identifying features of the licensee that are 

adequate to enable Federal, State, and other law enforcement 

officers to identify the holder. 

(b) RECOGNITION OF ELECTRONIC STAMP.—Any electronic stamp 

issued by a State under this Act shall, during the effective period 

of the electronic stamp— 

(1) bestow upon the licensee the same privileges as are 

bestowed by an actual stamp; 

(2) be recognized nationally as a valid Federal migratory 

bird hunting and conservation stamp; and 

(3) authorize the licensee to hunt migratory waterfowl in 

any other State, in accordance with the laws of the other 

State governing that hunting. 

(c) DURATION.—An electronic stamp issued by a State shall 

be valid for a period agreed to by the State and the Secretary, 

which shall not exceed 45 days. 

SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF STATE PARTICIPATION. 

The authority of a State to issue electronic stamps under this 

Act may be terminated— 

(1) by the Secretary, if the Secretary— 

(A) finds that the State has violated any of the terms 

of the application of the State approved by the Secretary 

under section 4; and 

(B) provides to the State written notice of the termination by not later than the date that is 30 days before 

the date of termination; or 

Notification. 

Deadlines. 

16 USC 718t. 

16 USC 718s. 

Contracts. 


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128 STAT. 2850 PUBLIC LAW 113–239—DEC. 18, 2014 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1206: 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 113–67 (Comm. on Natural Resources). 

SENATE REPORTS: No. 113–145 (Comm. on Environment and Public Works). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 

Vol. 159 (2013): June 3, considered and passed House. 

Vol. 160 (2014): Dec. 15, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

(2) by the State, by providing written notice to the Secretary by not later than the date that is 30 days before the 

termination date. 

Approved December 18, 2014. 


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