HP0521, LD 692, item 1, 125th Maine State Legislature
An An Act To Reduce Nonresident Hunting and Fishing License Fees and To Add Archery Hunting to Combination Licenses

PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An An Act To Reduce Nonresident Hunting and Fishing License Fees and To Add Archery Hunting to Combination Licenses
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
 
1. License required.   Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part, a person may not engage in an activity for which a license may be issued under this section unless that person has a valid license issued under this section. Each day a person violates this subsection that person commits a Class E crime for which a minimum fine of $50 and an amount equal to twice the applicable license fee must be imposed. Notwithstanding section 10001, subsection 53, a nonresident who owns real property in the State and is current with property tax requirements regarding that property is deemed a resident for the purpose of this section.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. OO, §2, is further amended to read:
 
3. Hunting licenses; combination licenses; fees.   Hunting licenses, combination licenses and fees are as follows.
 
A. A resident junior hunting license, for a person 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of age, is $7. Notwithstanding the permit fees established in subchapter 3, a resident junior hunting license includes all permits, stamps and other permissions needed to hunt at no additional cost.
 
B. A resident hunting license, for a person 16 years of age or older, is $25.
 
C. A resident small game hunting license, for a person 16 years of age or older, which permits hunting for all legal species except deer, bear, turkey, moose, raccoon and bobcat, is $14.
 
D. A resident combination hunting ~~and~~, fishing and archery hunting license is $42.
 
~~E~~.  ~~A resident combination archery hunting and fishing license is $42.~~
 
E-1. A resident apprenticeship hunter license, which includes a bear hunting permit and a wild turkey hunting permit under sections 11151 and 11155, respectively, is $25.
 
F. A nonresident junior hunting license, for a person 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of age, is ~~$34~~$26.
 
G. A nonresident small game hunting license, which permits hunting of all legal species except deer, bear, turkey, moose, raccoon and bobcat, is ~~$74~~$56.
 
H. A nonresident 3-day small game hunting license, valid for 3 consecutive hunting days, which permits hunting of all legal species except deer, bear, turkey, moose, raccoon and bobcat for the 72-hour period specified on the license, is ~~$49~~$37.
 
I. A nonresident big game hunting license, which permits hunting of all legal species subject to the permit requirements in chapter 915, subchapter 3, is ~~$114~~$86.
 
J. A nonresident combination hunting ~~and~~, fishing and archery hunting license is ~~$149~~$112.
 
K. An alien small game hunting license, which permits hunting of all species except deer, bear, turkey, moose, raccoon and bobcat, is $79.
 
L. An alien big game hunting license, which permits hunting of all legal species subject to the permit requirements in chapter 915, subchapter 3, is $139.
 
M. An alien combination hunting ~~and~~, fishing and archery hunting license is $190.
 
N. A license to use leashed dogs to track wounded animals, which permits a person to use one or more leashed dogs to track a lawfully wounded deer, moose or bear, is $27.
 
O. A nonresident small game apprenticeship hunter license, which permits the hunting of all legal species except deer, bear, turkey, moose, raccoon and bobcat, is ~~$74~~$56.
 
P. A nonresident big game apprenticeship hunter license, which permits the hunting of all legal species and includes a bear hunting permit and a wild turkey hunting permit under sections 11151 and 11155, respectively, is ~~$114~~$86.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§5, ¶B, as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. OO, §3, is further amended to read:
 
B. A nonresident muzzle-loading hunting permit is ~~$69~~$52; and
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. OO, §4, is further amended to read:
 
7. Archery hunting licenses; combination licenses; fees.   Archery hunting licenses, combination licenses and fees are as follows:
 
A. A resident archery license is $25;
 
B. A resident combination hunting, fishing and archery hunting ~~and fishing~~ license is $42;
 
C. A nonresident archery license is ~~$74~~$56; and
 
D. An alien archery license is $84.
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§9, ¶B, as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. OO, §5, is further amended to read:
 
B. A nonresident crossbow hunting license is ~~$55~~$41; and
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
 
1. License required.   Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this Part, a person may not fish for, transport or possess fish without a valid license issued under this section. Notwithstanding section 10001, subsection 53, a nonresident who owns real property in the State and is current with property tax requirements regarding that property is deemed a resident for the purpose of this section.
 
Each day a person violates this subsection, that person commits a Class E crime for which a minimum fine of $50 and an amount equal to twice the applicable license fee must be imposed.
Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§4, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
 
A.   A resident who possesses a one-day or 3-day fishing license may exchange it in the municipality in which that person resides for an annual resident fishing license or a resident combination hunting, fishing and archery hunting license upon the payment of:
 
(1) The difference between the fee for the one-day or 3-day license and the fee for the annual resident fishing license or resident combination hunting, fishing and archery hunting license; and
 
(2) Two dollars to the clerk or issuing agent.
Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§4, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
 
B.   A nonresident who possesses a 15-day nonresident fishing license may exchange it for an annual nonresident license upon the additional payment of:
 
(1) Nine dollars;
 
(2) The difference between the fee for the 15-day license and the fee for the annual license; and
 
(3) Two dollars to the clerk or issuing agent.
Sec. 9. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. OO, §11, is further amended to read:
 
6. Schedule of fees.   The fees for fishing licenses are as follows.
 
A. A resident fishing license is $25.
 
B. A resident combination hunting ~~and~~, fishing and archery hunting license is $42.
 
~~C~~.  ~~A resident combination archery hunting and fishing license is $42.~~
 
D. A nonresident junior fishing license, for persons 12 years of age or older and under 16 years of age, is ~~$16~~$12.
 
E. A 3-day fishing license for a resident or nonresident, valid for the 72-hour period specified on the license, is ~~$23~~$17.
 
F. A nonresident 7-day fishing license, valid for 7 days from date indicated on license, is ~~$43~~$32.
 
G. A nonresident 15-day fishing license, valid for 15 days from date indicated on license, is ~~$47~~$35.
 
H. A nonresident ~~season~~annual fishing license for persons 16 years of age or older is ~~$64~~$48.
 
I. An alien season fishing license for persons 16 years of age or older is $84.
 
J. A one-day fishing license for a resident or nonresident, valid for the 24-hour period indicated on license, is ~~$11~~$8.
 
SUMMARY
This bill:
1. Provides that a nonresident who owns real property in the State may purchase hunting or fishing licenses for the same fee as a resident;
2. Adds archery hunting to the hunting and fishing combination license; and
3. Reduces nonresident hunting and fishing license fees by approximately 25%.

HP0521, LR 1132, item 1,First Regular Session - 125th Maine Legislature, page