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An Act To Continue Limited Entry in the Scallop Fishery
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect as soon as possible in order to clarify who is eligible to obtain a license to take scallops; 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 §6706, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 607, Pt. A, §4, is amended to read:
 
2. License eligibility in subsequent years.   Except as provided in subsection 3, the commissioner may not issue a hand fishing scallop license or a scallop dragging license to any person in any year subsequent to 2009 unless that person possessed that license in the previous calendar year or is eligible to obtain a license in accordance with the limited entry system established under subsection 3.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6706, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 607, Pt. A, §4, is repealed.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill removes the provision of law that repeals the laws providing for limited entry into the scallop fishery and clarifies that a person who is eligible to obtain a license through the limited entry system may be issued a license by the Commissioner of Marine Resources.