Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §3007, sub-§5, as amended by PL 1999, c. 154, §1, is further amended to read:

5. Firearms and bows and arrows. A municipality shall consult with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife throughout the process of the consideration of the adoption or amendment of a firearm discharge ordinance.__The area in which the discharge of firearms is prohibited by a firearm discharge ordinance must be described in the ordinance using clearly defined physical boundaries.__For purposes of this subsection, the term "clearly defined physical boundaries" includes roads, waterways and utility corridors.__A municipality that adopts a firearm discharge ordinance shall prepare a wildlife management plan to prevent overpopulation of game animals in the area in which the discharge of firearms is prohibited by the firearm discharge ordinance. After January 1, 2000, a municipality that adopts or amends a firearm discharge ordinance shall provide the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife with a copy of the new or amended firearm discharge ordinance and a copy of any maps that show the areas in the municipality affected by the new or amended ordinance within 30 days from the date that the ordinance is enacted or amended. A municipality may not include bows and arrows in any firearms discharge ordinance.

SUMMARY

This bill requires a municipality to consult with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife throughout the process of consideration of the adoption or amendment of a firearm discharge ordinance. The area in which the discharge of firearms is prohibited must be described in the ordinance using clearly defined physical boundaries. A municipality that adopts a firearm discharge ordinance shall prepare a wildlife management plan to prevent overpopulation of game animals in the area in which the discharge of firearms is prohibited by the firearm discharge ordinance.