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An Act To Establish the Coyote Award Program
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10108-A  is enacted to read:
§ 10108-A.  Coyote award program
 
1.  Award program established.     The commissioner shall by rule establish a coyote award program for coyotes killed in the State. The program must pay an individual the sum of $25 per coyote killed.
 
2.  Payment.     At the conclusion of the program, the commissioner shall pay from the funds derived from the sale of hunting licenses to the individual an amount equal to the award set out in subsection 1.
 
3.  Application.     The commissioner may establish by rule procedures for applications for awards and for certification of the number, sex and size of coyotes killed.
 
4.  Eligibility.     Employees of the department, including part-time and seasonal employees and agents of the animal damage control program, including those who are not compensated, are not eligible to participate in any aspect of this program.
 
5.  Rules.     Rules established pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §10851, sub-§1,  as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §92 and affected by §422, is further amended to read:
 
1. Infants and seniors.   The following resident lifetime licenses may be purchased:
 
A.  For a resident who is less than 6 years of age:
 
(1) An infant resident lifetime fishing license. The fee for an infant resident lifetime fishing license is $150;
 
(2) An infant resident lifetime hunting license. The fee for an infant resident lifetime hunting license is $150$151;
 
(3) An infant resident lifetime archery hunting license. The fee for an infant resident lifetime archery hunting license is $150$151;
 
(3-A) An infant resident lifetime trapping license. The fee for an infant resident lifetime trapping license is $150;
 
(4) An infant resident combination of any 2 lifetime licenses. The fee for an infant resident combination of any 2 lifetime licenses is $250; and
 
(5) An infant resident combination of any 3 lifetime licenses. The fee for an infant resident combination of any 3 lifetime licenses is $400;
 
B.  For a resident from 6 to 15 years of age:
 
(1) A junior resident lifetime fishing license. The fee for a junior resident lifetime fishing license is $300;
 
(2) A junior resident lifetime hunting license. The fee for a junior resident lifetime hunting license is $300$301;
 
(3) A junior resident lifetime archery hunting license. The fee for a junior resident lifetime archery hunting license is $300$301;
 
(3-A) A junior resident lifetime trapping license. The fee for a junior resident lifetime trapping license is $300;
 
(4) A junior resident combination of any 2 lifetime licenses. The fee for a junior resident combination of any 2 lifetime licenses is $500; and
 
(5) A junior resident combination of any 3 lifetime licenses. The fee for a junior resident combination of any 3 lifetime licenses is $800;
 
C.  For a resident from 65 to 69 years of age:
 
(1) A senior resident lifetime fishing license. The fee for a senior resident lifetime fishing license is $50 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 65 years of age, $40 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 66 years of age, $30 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 67 years of age, $20 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 68 years of age and $10 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 69 years of age;
 
(2) A senior resident lifetime hunting license. The fee for a senior resident lifetime hunting license is $50$51 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 65 years of age, $40$41 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 66 years of age, $30$31 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 67 years of age, $20$21 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 68 years of age and $10$11 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 69 years of age;
 
(3) A senior resident lifetime archery hunting license. The fee for a senior resident lifetime archery hunting license is $50$51 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 65 years of age, $40$41 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 66 years of age, $30$31 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 67 years of age, $20$21 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 68 years of age and $10$11 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 69 years of age;
 
(3-A) A senior resident lifetime trapping license. The fee for a senior resident lifetime trapping license is $50 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 65 years of age, $40 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 66 years of age, $30 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 67 years of age, $20 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 68 years of age and $10 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 69 years of age;
 
(4) A senior resident combination of any 2 lifetime licenses. The fee for a senior resident combination of any 2 lifetime licenses is $80 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 65 years of age, $64 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 66 years of age, $48 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 67 years of age, $32 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 68 years of age and $16 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 69 years of age; and
 
(5) A senior resident combination of any 3 lifetime licenses. The fee for a senior resident combination of any 3 lifetime licenses is $110 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 65 years of age, $94 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 66 years of age, $78 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 67 years of age, $52 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 68 years of age and $26 for a person who purchases the license in the year in which that person turns 69 years of age; and
 
D.  For a resident 70 years of age or older. A person who holds a valid senior lifetime license under this section upon turning 70 years of age may obtain at no cost a hunting license, fishing license, trapping license, archery license under section 11109, subsection 7, a pheasant hunting permit under section 11156, a muzzle-loading hunting license under section 11109, subsection 4, a migratory waterfowl permit under section 11157 and a bear hunting permit under section 11151 and may renew at no cost a guide license under section 12853. A person who is 70 years of age or older may purchase a senior lifetime license that entitles the holder to all the privileges described in this paragraph for a one-time $8 fee.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§3,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §4, is further amended to read:
 
3. Hunting licenses; combination licenses; fees.   Hunting licenses, combination licenses and fees are as follows.
 
A.  A resident junior hunting license, for a person 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of age, is $7$8.
 
B.  A resident hunting license, for a person 16 years of age or older, is $21$22.
 
C.  A resident small game hunting license, for a person 16 years of age or older, which permits hunting for all legal species except deer, bear, turkey, moose, raccoon and bobcat, is $14$15.
 
D.  A resident combination hunting and fishing license is $38$39.
 
E.  A resident combination archery hunting and fishing license is $38$39.
 
F.  A nonresident junior hunting license, for a person 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of age, is $27$28.
 
G.  A nonresident small game hunting license, which permits hunting of all legal species except deer, bear, turkey, moose, raccoon and bobcat, is $67$68.
 
H.  A nonresident 3-day small game hunting license, valid for 3 consecutive hunting days, which permits hunting of all legal species except deer, bear, turkey, moose, raccoon and bobcat for the 72-hour period specified on the license, is $42$43.
 
I.  A nonresident big game hunting license, which permits hunting of all species including deer and bear, is $102$103.
 
J.  A nonresident combination hunting and fishing license is $137$138.
 
K.  An alien small game hunting license, which permits hunting of all species except deer, bear, turkey, moose, raccoon and bobcat, is $72$73.
 
L.  An alien big game hunting license, which permits hunting of all species including deer and bear, is $127$128.
 
M.  An alien combination hunting and fishing license is $178$179.
 
N.  A license to use leashed dogs to track wounded animals, which permits a person to use one or more leashed dogs to track a lawfully wounded deer, moose or bear, is $27.
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§7,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §5, is further amended to read:
 
7. Archery hunting licenses; combination licenses; fees.   Archery hunting licenses, combination licenses and fees are as follows:
 
A.  A resident archery license is $21$22;
 
B.  A resident combination archery hunting and fishing license is $38$39;
 
C.  A nonresident archery license is $62$63; and
 
D.  An alien archery license is $72$73.
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§9,  as enacted by PL 2005, c. 419, §5 and affected by §12, is amended to read:
 
9. Crossbow licenses and fees.   Crossbow hunting licenses and fees are as follows:
 
A.  A resident crossbow hunting license is $25$26;
 
B.  A nonresident crossbow hunting license is $48$49; and
 
C.  An alien crossbow hunting license is $72$73.
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §11109-A, sub-§5,  as enacted by PL 2005, c. 477, §4, is amended to read:
 
5. Fee.   The fee for a super pack license is $200$201 for residents and $175$176 for a person holding 2 or more lifetime licenses.
Sec. 7. Coyote award program funding. The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall use one half of the funds collected from the $1 increase in hunting license fees pursuant to sections 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 for the coyote award program established by rule pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 10108-A, subsection 1 and one half of the funds collected for the animal damage control program under Title 12, section 10053, subsection 8.
 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the coyote award program. The bill also increases hunting license fees by $1. The bill directs the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to use the funds collected from the increase in hunting license fees for the coyote award program and the animal damage control program.