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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘An Act Regarding the Authority of the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife To Issue Licenses to Beagle Clubs To Trap Snowshoe Hares’
Amend the bill in the 2nd paragraph after the title in the 2nd line (page 1, line 4 in L.D.) by striking out the following: “permits” and inserting in its place the following: 'licenses'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the emergency clause and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12261  is enacted to read:
§ 12261.  Beagle clubs; trapping snowshoe hares
The commissioner may issue a license to an organization recognized as a beagle club by the commissioner to take live snowshoe hares.
 
1.  License required.     Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part, a beagle club may not trap a snowshoe hare without a valid license issued under this section.
 
A.  A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged.
 
B.  A person who violates this subsection 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.
 
2.  Traps labeled and checked daily.     A beagle club may not set a trap for a snowshoe hare unless that trap is plainly labeled with the name of the beagle club and the telephone number of a contact person and is checked at least once every calendar day.
 
A.  A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged.
 
B.  A person who violates this subsection 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.  Use of snowshoe hares.     A snowshoe hare trapped pursuant to this section may not be used for anything other than to stock the running areas of the licensee and may not be given to any other beagle club or entity.
 
A.  A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged.
 
B.  A person who violates this subsection 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.
 
4.  Transport out of State.     A snowshoe hare trapped pursuant to this section may not be transported out of the State.
 
A.  A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged.
 
B.  A person who violates this subsection 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.
 
5.  Trapping season for snowshoe hares.     A beagle club may not trap for snowshoe hares except between September 1st and April 30th of each calendar year.
 
A.  A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged.
 
B.   A person who violates this subsection 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.
 
6.  Cottontail rabbits.     A beagle club may not keep and must release immediately a cottontail rabbit caught in a trap.
 
A.  A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged.
 
B.  A person who violates this subsection 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.
 
7.  Reporting of trapped cottontail rabbits.    As a condition of licensure under this section, a beagle club shall file with the department no later than July 1st of each calendar year a report of cottontail rabbits trapped pursuant to this section.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment is the majority report of the committee. It rewords the bill to conform to the standard language for prohibited acts under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, Part 13. This amendment provides civil penalties for violations regarding the trapping of snowshoe hares by beagle clubs.