Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12056 is enacted to read:

§12056. Field trial competitions; bobcats

1.__Establishment of 3-day field trials.__Beginning in 2006, the commissioner shall establish a 3-day field trial competition on bobcats that is sanctioned by a national kennel club.__The field trials must be held on 3 consecutive days ending with the last Saturday in February of each year.__The commissioner shall establish rules for competition that are based on rules used by a national kennel club for coonhound events and that result in approval of the field trials by a national kennel club.

2. Prohibition.__A person may not:

A. Injure a bobcat during field trials;

B. Kill a bobcat during field trials;

C.__Allow that person's dog to injure a bobcat during field trials; or

D.__Allow that person's dog to kill a bobcat during field trials.

3. Penalties.__The following penalties apply to a person who injures or kills a bobcat or allows that person's dog to injure or kill a bobcat during a field trial competition.

A.__A person who commits a violation under subsection 2, paragraph A commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.

B.__A person who commits a violation under subsection 2, paragraph A after having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period commits a Class E crime.

C. A person who commits a violation under subsection 2, paragraph B commits a Class E crime.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes a 3-day field trial competition on bobcats that begins in 2006 and is held the last Thursday, Friday and Saturday in February of each year. The bill prohibits and