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An Act To Remove the Requirement That a Person Training Dogs on Sundays Possess a Valid Hunting License
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  this legislation clarifies that a requirement imposed by the 124th Legislature that a person possess a valid hunting license when training dogs for hunting does not apply on Sundays, when hunting is not allowed, and training dogs occurs throughout the year; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12051, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 253, §21 and c. 309, §4, is further amended to read:
 
1. Open training season.   Unless otherwise provided in this Part, a person may not train dogs on wild birds and wild animals except as follows.
 
A. A person may train dogs on foxes, snowshoe hare and raccoons from July 1st through the following March 31st, including Sundays.
 
B. A person may train sporting dogs on wild birds at any time, including Sundays.
 
C. A resident may train up to 6 dogs at any one time on bear from July 1st to the 4th day preceding the open season on hunting bear, except in those portions of Washington County and Hancock County that are situated south of Route 9.
 
AExcept on Sundays, a person may not engage in activities authorized under this subsection unless that person possesses a valid hunting license issued under section 11109.
 
A person who violates this subsection commits a Class E crime.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill removes the requirement that a person who trains dogs on wild birds or wild animals on Sundays possess a valid hunting license.