| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6422, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 574, §§2 and | 3, is further amended to read: |
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| | 4. Allowance for waivers. Notwithstanding subsections 1 and | 2, the commissioner may waive all or part of the practical | lobster fishing experience component or the program length for a | person before that person enters the apprentice program if the | person documents that: |
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| A. Documents to the commissioner that the The person | obtained practical lobster fishing experience as a sternman | employed by the holder of a Class II or Class III license | issued under section 6421; |
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| B. Documents to the commissioner that the The person | obtained practical lobster fishing experience as a holder of | a student license issued under section 6421; or |
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| E. Documents to the commissioner that the The person | obtained practical lobster fishing experience as an | apprentice in the Monhegan Lobster Conservation Area | pursuant to section 6475.; |
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| F. A medical reason prevented that person from renewing a | lobster and crab fishing license so as to meet the | requirement of section 6421, subsection 5, paragraph A; |
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| G.__Service in the United States Armed Forces prevented that | person from participating in the lobster fishery; |
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| H.__That person held a lobster and crab fishing license for | at least 2 consecutive years in the last 10 years; or |
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| I.__At least 50% of that person's income came from | harvesting lobsters in one of the previous 5 years.__Income | documents submitted pursuant to this paragraph are | confidential records for the purposes of Title 1, section | 402, subsection 3, paragraph A. |
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| | 5.__Waiver review by advisory council.__The Marine Resources | Advisory Council, established under section 6024, shall review | each waiver request and recommend the commissioner either approve | or deny the request before the commissioner renders a decision | under subsection 4. |
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