Amend the bill by inserting after the title the following:
‘Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the feeding of bear, moose and wild turkey is creating a public safety hazard and having a detrimental effect on the bear, moose and wild turkey populations; and
Whereas, the open season on hunting bear begins on August 26th, bait to hunt bear may be placed beginning July 27th and hunters may train dogs on bear beginning July 1st; and
Whereas, Maine guides rely on bear hunting for their individual livelihoods, and communities in rural regions of the State depend on bear hunting for economic activity to help sustain their local economies; and
Whereas, migratory game bird hunting begins in October; and
Whereas, the importation and possession of wildlife requires immediate study; and
Whereas, the 90-day period will not end before the first events begin; 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,’
Amend the bill in section 1 in subsection 39 by striking out all of paragraph B (page 1, lines 6 and 7 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
‘B. Columbidae, or pigeons, including doves and wild pigeons , but not including rock doves, also known as rock pigeons;’
Amend the bill by inserting after section 2 the following:
‘Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §10902, sub-§6, ¶G, as amended by PL 2011, c. 253, §16, is further amended to read:
G. Buying or selling moose, unlawfully hunting moose or unlawfully possessing moose, in violation of section 11154, 11217, 11601, 11651-A, 11652, 12302-A, 12304-A, 12305 or 12403; or
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §10902, sub-§6, ¶H, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §99 and affected by §422, is further amended to read:
H. Buying or selling wild turkeys, unlawfully hunting wild turkeys, unlawfully possessing wild turkeys or using unlawful methods to hunt wild turkeys, in violation of section 11217, subsection 1; section 11751-A; section 11801; or section 12306, subsection 1 . ; or
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §10902, sub-§6, ¶I is enacted to read:
I. Hunting bear over another person's bait without written permission of that person in violation of section 11301, subsection 1-A.
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §11301, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:
Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §11302, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2009, c. 390, §3, is further amended to read:
Amend the bill by inserting after section 6 the following:
‘Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §12051, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is repealed.
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following:
‘Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment adds an emergency preamble and clause to the bill. It clarifies that rock doves, also known as "rock pigeons" and which the bill adds to the list of wild birds that may be hunted, are not included in the definition of "migratory game bird." It repeals the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 12051, subsection 2, which requires a permit to take rock doves from the wild for the purpose of training dogs since a rock dove is not a migratory game bird. It makes further changes to the laws regarding the placement of bear bait to prohibit hunting, trapping, molesting or harassing wildlife, using chemicals or releasing dogs in the vicinity of existing bait sites. It also requires nonresidents hunting bear with the use of a dog or dogs to be within visual and voice contact of a resident Maine guide. Finally, it makes the penalty for violation of hunting bear over another person's bait without permission a mandatory hunting license revocation.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)