Whereas, the current moose lottery system needs better review and safeguards as there is no current auditing procedure, and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife needs to review the process on an annual basis for equity; and

Whereas, there are many hunters who have faithfully entered the lottery and never have had success, and although it is unlikely that the lottery has been compromised it is critical that the State be above reproach regarding the number of failed selections for permits; and

Whereas, this legislation needs to be an emergency to take effect before the next lottery drawing in June 2006; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11552, last ¶, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:

Rules adopted under this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. The commissioner shall review annually the rules of the department concerning moose hunting and the moose hunting lottery to ensure that the lottery is applied fairly. The commissioner shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over wildlife matters by February 1st of each year on proposed actions under this section.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to review annually the rules concerning moose hunting and the moose hunting lottery to ensure that the lottery is applied fairly.