Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6447, sub-§5-C is enacted to read:

5-C.__Lobster management policy council authority.__ Notwithstanding any other provision in this subchapter, upon approval in a referendum under subsection 6, a lobster management policy council as defined in rules adopted by the commissioner may propose to the commissioner rules for a lobster management policy council that do any or all of the following:

A.__Increase the length of time an apprentice must be enrolled in the apprentice program up to a maximum of 5 years.__A rule that increases the length of enrollment does not apply to apprentices enrolled in the program at the time that rule takes effect;

B.__Require a sponsor of an apprentice to have held a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license for at least 5 years; and

C.__Require that a person who has completed an apprenticeship may enter a particular lobster zone only if the apprentice apprenticed in that zone.

SUMMARY

This bill expands the lobster management policy council authority to propose rules, upon approval in a referendum in the management zone in which the rules would apply, to increase the length of time an apprentice must be enrolled in the apprentice program up to a maximum of 5 years; to specify that a sponsor of an apprentice must have held a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license for at least 5 years; and to require that a person who completed an apprenticeship may enter a particular lobster zone only if the apprentice apprenticed in that zone.