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An Act Regarding the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  for the efficient management of the saltwater recreational fishery this legislation must take effect before the spring fishing season begins; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6032, as repealed and replaced by PL 2009, c. 559, §1 and affected by §4, is repealed.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6312, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 559, §2 and affected by §4, is repealed.
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §6313  is enacted to read:
§ 6313. Voluntary saltwater recreational fishing registry
 
1.  Voluntary saltwater recreational fishing registry established.     The commissioner shall work with the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish, administer and maintain a voluntary annual registry of persons who engage in saltwater recreational fishing. A person may register with the department through an online licensing system of the department or maintained by the department or by checking a box on that person's freshwater fishing license or watercraft registration issued under Part 13 at the time of purchase to indicate that that person plans to engage in saltwater recreational fishing for the period covered by the freshwater fishing license.
 
2.  Mail-in registration.     The department and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife may distribute postage-paid postcards to anglers through direct contact or through appropriate entities that allow an angler to register on the registry under subsection 1 by returning the postcard to the department. The commissioner shall determine the content of the postcard and the information to be provided by the angler.
 
3.  Voluntary registration; no fees.     The department may not establish or levy a fee for registering on the registry pursuant to subsection 1 or 2.
 
4.  Administration; funding.     The commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall administer the provisions of this section within the existing resources of the department and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall work with the State's congressional delegation to seek federal funding for purposes of this section. The commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife may not expand activities under this subsection beyond existing department resources unless federal funding is secured to cover the cost of those activities.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill repeals the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 6312 establishing the saltwater recreational fishing registry and Title 12, section 6032 establishing the Marine Recreation Fishing Conservation and Management Fund and does the following.
It provides for voluntary saltwater recreational fishing registration.
It directs the Commissioner of Marine Resources to work with the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish a system that allows a person to register on the voluntary saltwater fishing registry online, by checking a box on a freshwater fishing license or watercraft registration or by mailing in a postcard distributed by the departments.
It prohibits the establishment of a fee for registering on the saltwater recreational fishing registry and directs the Commissioner of Marine Resources and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to administer the saltwater recreational fishing registry within the departments' existing resources.