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An Act To Establish an Apprenticeship Hunter License Program
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11106, sub-§1, ¶A,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 397, Pt. E, §4, is further amended to read:
 
A.  A resident or nonresident 16 years of age or older who has satisfied the requirements of subsection 2 or holds an apprenticeship hunter license may obtain an archery hunting license to hunt with bow and arrow from the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized agent.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11106, sub-§2,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
 
2. Archery hunter education requirements.   A person who applies for an archery hunting license, other than a junior hunting license,or an apprenticeship hunter license must submit proof of having successfully completed an archery hunter education course as described in section 10108 or an equivalent archery hunter education course or satisfactory evidence of having previously held an adult archery hunting license issued specifically for the purpose of hunting with bow and arrow in this State or any other state, province or country in any year after 1979.
 
When proof or evidence can not be otherwise provided, the applicant may substitute a signed affidavit that the applicant has previously held the required adult archery hunting license or has successfully completed the required archery hunter education course.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §11106-A, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 2005, c. 419, §3 and affected by §12, is amended to read:
 
1. Big game license.   A resident or nonresident 16 years of age or older who has satisfied the requirements of subsection 3 and holds a valid big game license or an apprenticeship hunter license may obtain a crossbow license to hunt with a crossbow from the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized agent.
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §11106-A, sub-§3,  as enacted by PL 2005, c. 419, §3 and affected by §12, is amended to read:
 
3. Crossbow hunter education requirements.   A person who applies for a crossbow hunting license, other than a junior hunting license,or an apprenticeship hunter license must submit proof of having successfully completed an archery hunting education course and a crossbow hunting course as described in section 10108 or equivalent crossbow and archery hunting education courses or satisfactory evidence of having previously held adult archery and crossbow hunting licenses issued specifically for the purpose of hunting with a crossbow or bow and arrow in this State or any other state, province or country in any year after 1979.
 
When proof or evidence cannot be otherwise provided, the applicant may substitute a signed affidavit that the applicant has previously held the required adult crossbow and archery hunting license or has successfully completed the required crossbow and archery hunting education courses.
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §11107, sub-§3  is enacted to read:
 
3.  Apprenticeship hunter license.     A holder of an apprenticeship hunter license may obtain a muzzle-loading permit from the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized agent.
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §11108-B  is enacted to read:
§ 11108-B.  Apprenticeship hunter license restrictions
 
1.  Supervisor.     A holder of an apprenticeship hunter license may not hunt other than in the presence of a person at least 18 years of age who either holds a valid Maine hunting license or has successfully completed a hunter safety course acceptable under sections 10108 and 11105.
 
2.  Supervisor; penalties.     The following penalties apply to violations of subsection 1.
 
A.   A person who violates subsection 1 commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.
 
B.   A person who violates subsection 1 after having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period commits a Class E crime.
 
3.  Age requirements.     A person who is 16 years of age or older and not a holder of a valid hunting license or junior hunting license may hold an apprenticeship hunter license.
 
4.  Expiration of apprenticeship hunter license.     An apprenticeship hunter license is valid for up to 12 calendar months and expires on March 31st.
 
5.  Definition.     For the purposes of this section, "in the presence of " means in visual and voice contact without the use of visual or audio enhancement devices, including binoculars and citizen band radios.
Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§3, ¶E-1  is enacted to read:
 
E-1.  A resident apprenticeship hunter license is $7.
Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§3, ¶O  is enacted to read:
 
O.  A nonresident apprenticeship hunter license is $27.
 
SUMMARY
This bill creates the apprenticeship hunter license, patterned after the junior hunting license, which allows a person without a hunting license to hunt under the supervision of a person who holds a valid hunting license or has passed a qualified hunter safety course.