F. When 2 or more municipalities have entered into a regional shellfish management agreement pursuant to subsection 7, the combined total number of commercial licenses for nonresidents provided by those municipalities must be a number not less than 10% of the combined total number of commercial licenses issued for residents. When the combined total number of resident commercial licenses is fewer than 10 but more than 5, at least one nonresident commercial license must be provided. When the combined total number of resident commercial licenses is 5 or fewer, nonresident commercial licenses are not required.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6671, sub-§7, as amended by PL 1995, c. 531, §3, is further amended to read:

7. Joint programs; reciprocal privileges. Municipalities may enter into regional shellfish management agreements with other municipalities and adopt regional shellfish management programs. The agreements, and the programs and ordinances adopted under them, are subject to the same requirements as municipal programs and ordinances. Resident privileges of one municipality in a regional shellfish management agreement may be extended to the residents of other municipalities in the agreement. Notwithstanding subsection 2, a regional shellfish management committee comprised of at least one resident from each municipality named in the regional agreement may be established to administer a regional program.

SUMMARY

This bill prohibits municipal shellfish ordinances from establishing shellfish licenses based on residency.