| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §7202, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 420, §1, is | amended to read: |
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| | 1. Issuance. The commissioner may grant permits to introduce, | import or transport any live freshwater fish or eggs gametes into | the State or to receive or have in possession fish or eggs | gametes so introduced, imported or transported if the | commissioner determines that the species does not pose a | significant risk to the health, habitat or genetic integrity of | any native species of fish or other organisms. |
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| | Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §7202, sub-§2, ¶¶B and C, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 420, | §1, are amended to read: |
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| B. The name and address of the source; and |
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| C. A statement from a recognized fish pathologist, from a | college or university, from a state conservation department | or from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, | certifying that the fish or eggs gametes are from sources | which that show no evidence of viral hemorrhagic septicemia, | infectious pancreatic necrosis, infectious hematopoietic | necrosis, Myxosomo cerebralis or other diseases which that | may threaten fish stocks within the State. ; and |
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| | Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §7202, sub-§2, ¶D is enacted to read: |
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| D.__Any other tests or analyses that the commissioner may | require by rule to protect the health of fish or other | organisms. |
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| | Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §7202, sub-§3 is enacted to read: |
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| | 3.__Rules.__The commissioner may adopt rules allowing the | importation of certain species of tropical fish and goldfish | without a permit, for aquarium purposes only, if the commissioner | determines that the species does not pose a significant risk to | the health, habitat or genetic integrity of any native species of | fish or other aquatic organism. |
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| | Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §7377, sub-§5-A, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 455, §25, | is repealed. |
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| | This bill will clarify the authority of the Commissioner of | Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to deny an importation permit if it |
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