An Act Pertaining to the Laws Governing Pull Events
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §96, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 563, §3, is amended to read:
If the person against whom the violation is alleged does not request a hearing or if, after a hearing, the commissioner finds the person has committed the violation, the commissioner shall prohibit that person from competing in any event within the State for a period of up to 2 years and shall also exclude the animal from competing in any event within the State for a period of up to one year. The commissioner may also, in an adjudicatory proceeding, in lieu of a civil action under subsection 9, impose an administrative penalty not to exceed $1,000 for a violation of this section.
The commissioner may establish, by rule, a schedule of administrative penalties for violations of this section that includes fines and prohibitions on competing. The schedule must be based on the severity of the violation. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §98, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 563, §3, is amended to read: