Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §7463-A, sub-§15 is enacted to read:

15.__Auction.__The commissioner shall withdraw 10 permits from the number of moose permits to be issued annually to be set aside for auction by a tax-exempt national organization that raises tax-deductible contributions in support of a wide range of firearm-related, public-interest activities, including promoting firearms and hunting safety, enhancing the marksmanship skill of those participating in the shooting sports and educating the general public about firearms in their historic, technologic and artistic context.

A.__The number set aside must have the same ratio of resident to nonresident permits as the total number of permits issued has.

B.__The permits sold at auction may be purchased by any person regardless of residency status.

C.__One half of the proceeds generated from the auction of the permits must be returned by the tax-exempt organization under this subsection to the commissioner and deposited into a special nonlapsing account within the department to fund or expand youth conservation education programs.

D.__One half of the proceeds generated from the auction of the permits must be used by the tax-exempt organization to provide grants in support of its mission.

SUMMARY

This bill provides funds to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for youth conservation education programs through the mechanism of auctioning off 10 moose permits annually and ensuring that at least 1/2 of the proceeds from the auctions is returned to the department. The auctions would be conducted by a tax-exempt national organization that will use the remaining 1/2 of the proceeds to support a wide range of firearm-related, public-interest activities, including promoting firearms and hunting safety, enhancing the marksmanship skill of those participating in the shooting sports and educating the general public about firearms in their historic, technologic and artistic context.