An Act To Allow the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife To Change the Closing Date of Fishing Seasons

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the open-water fishing season is scheduled to begin April 1, 2017; and

Whereas,  weather conditions are still conducive to ice fishing in some areas of the State; 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 §12456, sub-§2, ¶E,  as enacted by PL 2013, c. 3, §2, is amended to read:

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

SUMMARY

Current law allows the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to change the date of the opening of a fishing season due to seasonal temperature changes or weather conditions.

This bill eliminates the reference to seasonal temperature changes and allows the commissioner to change both the opening and closing dates of a fishing season based on weather conditions.