An Act To Require the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife To Promote Safety with Respect to the Handling or Use of Firearms, Watercraft, All-terrain Vehicles and Snowmobiles and in Other Outdoor Activities

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10056,  as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and amended by c. 655, Pt. B, §17 and affected by §422, is further amended to read:

§ 10056. Division of Public Information and Education

The Division of Public Information and Education is established within the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and is responsible for the administration of programs to increase the public's knowledge and understanding of inland fisheries and wildlife resources and the management of these resources, including the administration of education programs for hunter safety and for the safe operation of snowmobiles, watercraft and all-terrain vehicles. The division's responsibilities include public education, promotion of inland fisheries and wildlife resources and the dissemination of information. The division’s responsibilities also include conducting annual campaigns promoting safety in the handling and use of firearms, watercraft, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles as well as campaigns promoting safety with respect to other outdoor activities to the extent the division determines doing so would help improve safety in the woodlands and inland waters of the State. Campaigns to promote safety must be designed to reach target audiences effectively through television, radio, Internet or other communication mediums.