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An Act To Promote the Maine Economy and Support Maine's Sporting Camp Tradition
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §11154, sub-§14  is enacted to read:
 
14.  Permits for hunting lodges.     In any year in which the total number of moose permits available as determined by the commissioner under subsection 2 for the public chance drawing under subsection 9 exceeds 3,140, 10% of the permits exceeding 3,140 must be allocated through a chance drawing separate from the chance drawing under subsection 9 to hunting outfitters in accordance with this subsection. The fee for a moose hunting permit under this subsection is $1,500.
 
A.  For the purposes of this subsection, "hunting outfitter" means a person who operates an eating and lodging place licensed under Title 22, chapter 562 and who provides package deals that include food, lodging and the services of a guide licensed under chapter 927 for the purpose of hunting.
 
B.  A hunting outfitter may sell or transfer a permit allocated under this subsection only once, and only under the following conditions:
 
(1) The sale or transfer must be part of a package deal that includes the food and lodging to be provided by the hunting outfitter to the person receiving the permit;
 
(2) The person receiving the permit from the hunting outfitter must be accompanied during the hunt by a guide licensed under chapter 927; and
 
(3) The hunting outfitter must notify the department of the identity of the person receiving the permit.
 
C.  A hunting outfitter may be allocated more than one permit.
 
D.  A permit allocated under this subsection may be used only for the year, season, sex and wildlife management district for which the permit is issued.
 
E.  Permits allocated under this subsection may not exceed 10% of the total permits issued per year for each season, sex and wildlife management district permit type.
 
F.  An individual may hunt with a permit sold or transferred under this subsection only if that individual is otherwise eligible to obtain and hunt with a permit under subsection 5.
 
G.  If proceeds in any year from the auction authorized under subsection 11 are less than $107,000, proceeds from the chance drawing conducted pursuant to this subsection must be used to fund youth conservation education programs as provided under subsection 11 up to $107,000. The remainder must be deposited in the Moose Research and Management Fund under section 10263.
Sec. 2. Lapsed balances; Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife carrying account. On or before June 30, 2014 and on or before June 30, 2015, the State Controller shall lapse $10,374 from the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Carrying Balances - General Fund account to the General Fund unappropriated surplus to offset the loss in revenue from changes made to moose permit fees.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 126th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.