An Act To Simplify and Encourage the Sale of Hunting and Fishing Licenses and Permits

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  it is important to update the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's online system for persons to purchase licenses and registrations as soon as possible to increase its efficiency and usability; 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,

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11152, sub-§5,  as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §122 and affected by §422, is further amended to read:

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11152, sub-§6,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §123 and affected by §422, is repealed.

Sec. 3. Updating of the Maine Online Sportsman's Electronic System. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall survey users of its online system for purchasing licenses and registrations, known as the Maine Online Sportsman's Electronic System, and, based on the information obtained from those users, develop a plan for updating that system. The plan must focus on updating the system's user interface and provide options for online renewal of trapping licenses and guide licenses. The department shall submit its plan, together with a proposed budget for implementing the plan, to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by December 1, 2013. The committee may report out a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature.

Sec. 4. Improving the laws governing inland fisheries and wildlife. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall develop a plan to simplify and streamline:

1. Complimentary licenses. The eligibility requirements for and issuance of complimentary licenses;

2. Revocation of licenses. The laws governing license revocations; and

3. Hunting licenses. The laws governing hunting, including age restrictions, equipment restrictions and supervision requirements. The plan must extend the supervisory requirements for apprentice hunters to junior hunters and make supervisory requirements for hunting consistent with those that apply to trapping.

The department shall submit a report including the plan it develops under this section to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by December 1, 2013, together with draft legislation necessary to implement the plan. The committee may report out a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature.

Sec. 5. Lifetime licenses; study established. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall commission an actuarial review of expanding the availability of lifetime hunting and fishing licenses. The department shall submit a report with the findings, along with an explanation of the study methodology and any proposed modifications to the lifetime license system, to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by February 1, 2014. The committee may report out a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature.

Sec. 6. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT OF

Licensing Services - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 0531

Initiative: Provides one-time funding for an actuarial study to review expanding the availability of lifetime hunting and fishing licenses.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2013-14	2014-15
All Other	$10,000	$0
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$10,000	$0

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.