An Act To Enhance Fish and Wildlife Laws

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, 2019 and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife intends to conduct emergency rulemaking this year regarding that date; 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:

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §12456, sub-§3,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §244 and affected by §422, is amended to read:

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

SUMMARY

This bill provides the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife the authority to change the closing date of the recreational ice-fishing season by rule. It also amends the rule-making provision of the law governing open seasons for fishing to explicitly provide for adoption of emergency rules.