An Act To Clarify Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Laws for Youth

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11108-A, sub-§7  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §12201, sub-§2, ¶C,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:

Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §12201, sub-§7, ¶A,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:

Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §12201, sub-§9  is enacted to read:

Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§2, ¶B,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:

Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§5,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is repealed.

Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§6, ¶D,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §24, is repealed.

Sec. 8. 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:

Sec. 9. 12 MRSA §12612  is enacted to read:

§ 12612.  Parent or guardian; violation by minor

A person violates this section if that person is the adult supervisor, parent or guardian of a minor under 16 years of age and that minor violates any provision of this Part pertaining to fishing.

summary

This bill provides penalties for adult supervisors, parents and guardians of minors who violate the laws governing fishing, hunting and trapping.

This bill conforms the age requirement for licensure of nonresident anglers to that of resident anglers in accordance with an effort by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to make fishing laws more consistent.

The bill amends the statute that allows children under 10 years of age to trap, under supervision, without a license to prohibit them from trapping bear. This is a safety concern of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.