(1) Subject to other requirements of this part, the department may issue a hunting license to an adult who has a developmental disability, has a guardian appointed under chapter 6 of the mental health code, 1974 PA 258, MCL 330.1600 to 330.1644, and is unable to obtain certification of completion of training in hunter safety, or to a minor child if all of the following requirements are met:

    (a) A parent or guardian of the individual applies for the license on behalf of the individual.

    (b) The parent or guardian represents that the requirements of section 43517, as applicable, will be complied with.

    (c) The license fee is paid.

    (2) An individual born after January 1, 1960 shall not purchase or attempt to purchase a hunting license, unless the individual presents proof of previous hunting experience in the form of a hunting license issued by this state, another state, a province of Canada, or another country or presents a certification of completion of training in hunter safety issued to the individual by this state, another state, a province of Canada, or another country. If an applicant for a hunting license does not have proof of such a previous license or a certification of completion of training in hunter safety, a person authorized to sell hunting licenses may issue a hunting license if the applicant submits a signed affidavit stating that the applicant has completed a course in hunter safety or that the applicant possessed such a hunting license previously. The person selling a hunting license shall record as specified by the department the form of proof of the previous hunting experience or certification of completion of hunter safety training presented by the applicant. This subsection does not apply to the issuance of an apprentice license or mentored hunting license. An apprentice license, mentored hunting license, or the equivalent does not satisfy the requirements of this subsection concerning proof of previous hunting experience.

    (3) An individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection (2) may obtain an apprentice license for the same price as the corresponding regular license that the individual would otherwise be qualified to obtain. An individual 17 years old or older shall not hunt game under an apprentice license unless another individual at least 21 years old who possesses a license, other than an apprentice license, to hunt that game accompanies that apprentice licensee and does not accompany more than 1 other apprentice licensee. For the purposes of this subsection and section 43517(1)(b), an individual shall not go along with more than 2 apprentice licensees of any age for the purpose of accompanying those apprentice licensees while those apprentice licensees are hunting. If an individual has represented to an apprentice licensee or, if the apprentice licensee is a minor child, to the apprentice licensee's parent or guardian that the individual would accompany the apprentice licensee for the purposes of this subsection, the individual shall not go along with the apprentice licensee while the apprentice licensee is hunting unless the individual actually accompanies the apprentice licensee and possesses a license, other than an apprentice license, to hunt the same game as the apprentice licensee. An individual is not eligible to obtain a specific type of apprentice license, such as a deer license, a base license, or a turkey license, for more than 2 license years. An apprentice license must be distinguished from a license other than an apprentice license by a notation or other means.

    (4) Only a minor who is less than 10 years old, a minor child with a developmental disability, or an adult who has a developmental disability and a guardian appointed under chapter 6 of the mental health code, 1974 PA 258, MCL 330.1600 to 330.1644, may obtain a mentored hunting license. A minor who is less than 10 years old, a minor child with a developmental disability, or an adult who has a developmental disability and a guardian appointed under chapter 6 of the mental health code, 1974 PA 258, MCL 330.1600 to 330.1644, shall not hunt game under a mentored hunting license unless that individual complies with all requirements of the mentored hunting program established by the commission under section 43517.

    (5) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the fee for a mentored hunting license is $7.50. A mentored hunting license is free for an individual with a developmental disability. A mentored hunting license includes all of the privileges conferred by all of the following:

    (a) Base license.

    (b) Deer license.

    (c) All-species fishing license.

    (d) Spring wild turkey hunting license and fall wild turkey hunting license.

    (e) Fur harvester's license.

    (6) An individual who purchases a mentored hunting license may apply for or purchase additional licenses pursuant to current regulations, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

    (a) Antlerless deer licenses under section 43527a.

    (b) A bear hunting license under section 43528.

    (c) An elk hunting license under section 43529.

    (7) An individual hunting with a license purchased under subsection (6) must comply with all requirements of the mentored hunting program established by the commission under section 43517.

    (8) By September 1, 2023 and every 4 years after that date, the department shall submit a report to the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with primary responsibility for conservation and outdoor recreation issues evaluating whether the fee revenue received by the department from mentored hunting licenses under subsection (5) is adequate to administer the mentored hunting program.

    (9) As used in this section, "developmental disability" means that term as defined in section 100a of the mental health code, 1974 PA 258, MCL 330.1100a.