HP0684
LD 970
Session - 126th Maine Legislature
C "A", Filing Number H-362, Sponsored by
LR 1643
Item 2
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10107-A, sub-§6,  as enacted by PL 2011, c. 381, §3, is amended to read:

6. Work with others.  The department’s efforts to work with interest groups regarding predator control deer habitat enhancement.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §10264,  as amended by PL 2011, c. 668, §3, is further amended to read:

§ 10264. Maine Deer Management Fund

The Maine Deer Management Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established within the department as a nonlapsing fund to be used by the commissioner to fund or assist in funding predator control and to enhance deer habitat enhancement. The commissioner shall establish on the department's online licensing system a checkoff options option that allow allows a person to donate money for predator control or deer habitat enhancement. The checkoff options option must be prominently displayed and contain web links to information about how the checkoff revenues have been and will be used. The commissioner shall also print in a prominent place on every paper application for a hunting license a checkoff options option that allow allows a person to donate money to the fund for predator control or deer habitat enhancement. Revenues from the checkoffs checkoff must be deposited in the fund and used for purposes indicated by the checkoffs checkoff.

Notwithstanding section 10801, subsection 4, $2 of each deer registration fee collected under section 12301-A, subsection 3, paragraph C must be deposited in the fund. Fifty percent All of the funds deposited in the fund from the deer registration fees must be used for predator control purposes and 50% of the deposited fees must be used to enhance deer habitat. The commissioner may accept and deposit into the fund monetary gifts, donations or other contributions from public or private sources for the purposes specified in this section. The fund must be held separate and apart from all other money, funds and accounts. The department shall report annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters on the fund and its utilization.

Sec. 3. Predator control program; funding. The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall use any funding provided by Public Law 2011, chapters 381 and 666 to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for coyote predator control only for deer habitat enhancement purposes.’

summary

This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, eliminates funding to control deer predation. The amendment directs the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to redirect all money provided to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for predator control, including funds contained in the Maine Deer Management Fund, to deer habitat enhancement.


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