An Act To Simplify and Encourage the Sale of Hunting and Fishing Licenses and Permits
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, it is important to update the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's online system for persons to purchase licenses and registrations as soon as possible to increase its efficiency and usability; 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,
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10851, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 253, §12 and c. 268, §1, is further amended to read:
(1) An infant lifetime fishing license. The fee for an infant lifetime fishing license is $150 for a resident and $450 for a nonresident, except that, from December 1, 2011 until March 1, 2015, the fee for a nonresident is $200;
(2) An infant lifetime hunting license. The fee for an infant lifetime hunting license is $150 for a resident and $450 for a nonresident, except that, from December 1, 2011 until March 1, 2015, the fee for a nonresident is $200;
(3) An infant lifetime archery hunting license. The fee for an infant lifetime archery hunting license is $150 for a resident and $450 for a nonresident, except that, from December 1, 2011 until March 1, 2015, the fee for a nonresident is $200;
(3-A) An infant lifetime trapping license. The fee for an infant lifetime trapping license is $150 for a resident and $450 for a nonresident, except that, from December 1, 2011 until March 1, 2015, the fee for a nonresident is $200;
(4) An infant combination of any 2 lifetime licenses. The fee for an infant combination of any 2 lifetime licenses is $250 for a resident and $750 for a nonresident, except that, from December 1, 2011 until March 1, 2015, the fee for a nonresident is $425; and
(5) An infant combination of any 3 lifetime licenses. The fee for an infant combination of any 3 lifetime licenses is $400 for a resident and $1,200 for a nonresident, except that, from December 1, 2011 until March 1, 2015, the fee for a nonresident is $660;
(1) A junior lifetime fishing license. The fee for a junior lifetime fishing license is $300 for a resident and $900 for a nonresident;
(2) A junior lifetime hunting license. The fee for a junior lifetime hunting license is $300 for a resident and $900 for a nonresident;
(3) A junior lifetime archery hunting license. The fee for a junior lifetime archery hunting license is $300 for a resident and $900 for a nonresident;
(3-A) A junior lifetime trapping license. The fee for a junior lifetime trapping license is $300 for a resident and $900 for a nonresident;
(4) A junior combination of any 2 lifetime licenses. The fee for a junior combination of any 2 lifetime licenses is $500 for a resident and $1,500 for a nonresident; and
(5) A junior combination of any 3 lifetime licenses. The fee for a junior combination of any 3 lifetime licenses is $800 for a resident and $2,400 for a nonresident;
(1) A senior resident lifetime fishing license. The fee for a senior resident lifetime fishing license is $50 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 65 years of age, $40 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 66 years of age, $30 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 67 years of age, $20 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 68 years of age and $10 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 69 years of age;
(2) A senior resident lifetime hunting license. The fee for a senior resident lifetime hunting license is $50 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 65 years of age, $40 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 66 years of age, $30 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 67 years of age, $20 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 68 years of age and $10 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 69 years of age;
(3) A senior resident lifetime archery hunting license. The fee for a senior resident lifetime archery hunting license is $50 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 65 years of age, $40 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 66 years of age, $30 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 67 years of age, $20 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 68 years of age and $10 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 69 years of age;
(3-A) A senior resident lifetime trapping license. The fee for a senior resident lifetime trapping license is $50 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 65 years of age, $40 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 66 years of age, $30 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 67 years of age, $20 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 68 years of age and $10 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 69 years of age;
(4) A senior resident combination of any 2 lifetime licenses. The fee for a senior resident combination of any 2 lifetime licenses is $80 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 65 years of age, $64 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 66 years of age, $48 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 67 years of age, $32 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 68 years of age and $16 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 69 years of age; and
(5) A senior resident combination of any 3 lifetime licenses. The fee for a senior resident combination of any 3 lifetime licenses is $110 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 65 years of age, $94 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 66 years of age, $78 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 67 years of age, $52 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 68 years of age and $26 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 69 years of age; and
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11152, sub-§5, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §122 and affected by §422, is further amended to read:
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §11152, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §123 and affected by §422, is repealed.
Sec. 4. Task force to reduce the number of licenses, permits and registrations. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall convene a task force composed of persons representing individuals and organizations that purchase licenses, permits and registrations issued by the department for the purpose of creating a plan to reduce the number of types of licenses, permits and registrations administered by the department. The department shall submit a report including the plan it develops under this section to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by December 1, 2013, together with draft legislation necessary to implement the plan. The committee may report out a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature.
Sec. 5. Updating of the Maine Online Sportsman's Electronic System. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall develop a plan for updating its online system for persons to purchase licenses and registrations, known as the Maine Online Sportsman's Electronic System. The department shall submit its plan, together with a proposed budget for implementing the plan, to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by April 1, 2013. The committee may report out a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the First Regular Session of the 126th Legislature.
Sec. 6. Improving the laws governing inland fisheries and wildlife. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall develop a plan to simplify and streamline:
1. Complimentary licenses. The eligibility requirements for and issuance of complimentary licenses;
2. Revocation of licenses. The laws governing license revocations; and
3. Hunting licenses. The laws governing hunting, including age restrictions, equipment restrictions and supervision requirements. The plan must extend the supervisory requirements for apprentice hunters to junior hunters and make supervisory requirements for hunting consistent with those that apply to trapping.
The department shall submit a report including the plan it develops under this section to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by December 1, 2013, together with draft legislation necessary to implement the plan. The committee may report out a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
summary
This bill:
1. Extends the lifetime license system for hunting and fishing licenses to all individuals regardless of age;
2. Allows antlerless deer permits to be transferred to any other hunter, regardless of age;
3. Requires the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to convene a task force composed of persons representing individuals and organizations that purchase licenses, permits and registrations issued by the department for the purpose of creating a plan to reduce the number of types of licenses, permits and registrations administered by the department. The department must submit the plan to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by December 1, 2013, together with draft legislation necessary to implement the recommendations. The committee is authorized to report out a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature;
4. Requires the department to develop a plan for updating its online system for persons to purchase licenses and registrations, known as the Maine Online Sportsman's Electronic System. The department must submit its plan, together with a proposed budget for implementing the plan, to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by April 1, 2013. The committee may report out a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the First Regular Session of the 126th Legislature; and
5. Requires the department to develop a plan to simplify and streamline the eligibility requirements for and issuance of complimentary licenses, the laws governing license revocations and the laws governing hunting, including age restrictions, equipment restrictions and supervision requirements. The plan must extend the supervisory requirements for apprentice hunters to junior hunters and make supervisory requirements for hunting consistent with those that apply to trapping. The department is required to submit the plan to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by December 1, 2013, together with draft legislation necessary to implement the recommendations. The committee may report out a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature.