Whereas, this legislation increases the amount of prize money that may be awarded for fishing derbies operated in conjunction with the fisheries management objectives of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; and

Whereas, these derbies benefit charitable organizations; and

Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect prior to the fishing derby season; 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 §12504, sub-§3, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:

B. Fixing the maximum total value of prizes that may be awarded at each derby or tournament, except that for a derby held in conjunction with the department's fisheries management objectives, the maximum total value of prizes may not exceed $100,000.

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

SUMMARY

Current law requires the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish, by rule, the maximum prize level for fishing derbies; that amount is currently set at $25,000.

This bill increases to $100,000 the maximum total value of prize money for a fishing derby that is held in conjunction with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's fisheries management objectives.