Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §7076, sub-§1, as repealed and replaced by PL 1995, c. 462, Pt. A, §33, is amended to read:

1. Residents over 65 years of age. A complimentary license to hunt, trap or fish, including an archery license under section 7102-A, a pheasant hunting permit under section 7106-B and a muzzle-loading hunting license under section 7107-A, must be issued to any resident of Maine who is 70 65 years of age or older upon application to the commissioner. These complimentary licenses, upon issuance, remain valid for the remainder of the life of the license holder, provided the license holder continues to satisfy the residency requirements set out in section 7001, subsection 32 and provided the license is not revoked or suspended. Residents who apply for these complimentary licenses at any time during the calendar year of their 70th 65th birthday must be issued a license upon application, regardless of the actual date during that calendar year in which they attain age 70 65. A guide license may be renewed without charge for any resident of Maine who is 70 65 years of age or older upon application to the commissioner. The application must be accompanied by a birth certificate or other certified evidence of the applicant's date of birth and residency. When the holder of a license issued under this subsection no longer satisfies the residency requirements set out in section 7001, subsection 32, the license is no longer valid and further use of the license for purposes of hunting, fishing or trapping constitutes a license violation under section 7371, subsection 3.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §7076, sub-§6-B is enacted to read:

6-B.__Active military service.__A complimentary combination fishing and hunting license must be issued to a resident who is in active military service upon proof that that person is a resident of this State and is in active military service.__The license is valid during the year of issue.

SUMMARY

This bill allows a resident of the State who is 65 years of age or older to receive a free hunting and fishing license. The bill also allows a person who is in active military service to receive a free hunting and fishing license.