Whereas, changes were made to licensing requirements for lobstering by the First Regular Session of the 119th Legislature to restrict entry into certain lobster management zones including zone G; and

Whereas, persons licensed as apprentices when the changes took effect may not be licensed to fish zone G unless authorized as new zone entrants; and

Whereas, this unfairly deprives those apprentices of fishing zone G; and

Whereas, it is imperative that this inequity is resolved as quickly as possible; 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,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6448, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 508, §3, is amended to read:

4. Limited-entry zone as declared lobster zone. A person may not be issued a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license that identifies a limited-entry zone as the declared lobster zone unless that person:

A. Held in the previous licensing year a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license that identified that zone as the person's declared lobster zone; or

B. Is authorized as a new zone entrant by the commissioner pursuant to subsection 7 to declare that zone as the person's declared lobster zone.; or

C.__Meets the following requirements:

(1)__Was enrolled as of September 19, 1999 in an apprentice lobster fishing program established pursuant to section 6422;