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An Act To Make License Requirements and Rules Consistent for Young Anglers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12455,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
§ 12455. List of waters where children may fish with single-baited hook and line
Rules adopted by the commissioner that set forth the special fishing regulations for inland waters of the State must include a list of waters where a person under 1216 years of age may fish with a single-baited hook and line.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §12458, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
 
1. Aroostook River.   A person 1216 years of age or younger may fish from shore with a single-baited hook and line on the following areas of the Aroostook River during the open-water fishing season:
 
A.  In the Town of Caribou, from and including Otter Brook upstream to the Maine Public Service Company dam, including all tributaries in this section upstream to the first highway bridge intersecting each tributary; and
 
B.  In the Town of Fort Fairfield, from and including Pattee Brook upstream to Hockenhull Brook, including all tributaries in this section upstream to the first highway bridge intersecting the tributary.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§2, ¶A,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
 
A.  A resident fishing license to a resident 16 years of age or older; and.
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§2, ¶B,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is repealed.
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§5,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is repealed.
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§6, ¶D,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §24, is repealed.
Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §12503, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
 
1. Resident and nonresident under 16.   A resident and a nonresident under 16 years of age and a nonresident under 12 years of age may fish without a license.
 
SUMMARY
This bill makes age requirements for nonresident youth anglers consistent with resident anglers. No license is required until reaching 16 years of age.