‘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 vital to the management of game species that adequate opportunity exist for hunters to properly train their hunting dogs; and
Whereas, hunting dog training season begins on July 1, 2009; 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 §12051, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:
(1) A person may train dogs on foxes, rabbits and raccoons from July 1st through the following March 31st, including Sundays.
(2) A person may train sporting dogs on wild birds at any time, including Sundays.
(3) A resident may train up to 6 dogs at any one time on bear from July 1st to the first day of the open season on hunting bear, except in those portions of Washington County and Hancock County that are situated south of Route 9.
A person who violates this subsection commits a Class E crime.
This subsection is repealed on June 30, 2010.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect July 1, 2009.’