An Act To Provide Access to Maine's Resources to Certain Veterans Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and inserting in its place the following: Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not become effective until gO days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and Whereas, this legislation provides certain benefits to homecoming veterans of the Iraq War; and Whereas, these benefits, such as a free one-year fishing license and free access to state parks would need to begin before the gO-day period ends; and Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency wi thin 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, Page l-LR0296(2) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0649
Committee Amendment CA_A_S197 (Senate)
Amends: 12 MRSA §1819-A, 12 MRSA §10853, 37-B MRSA §6

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A" to S • P • 204, L • D • 649, Bill, "An 
Act To Provide Access to Maine's Resources to Veterans of the 
Iraq War" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
'An Act 
To 
Provide Access to Maine's 
Resources 
to Certain 
Veterans' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the 
title and before the summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until gO days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this 
legislation 
provides 
certain benefits 
to 
homecoming veterans of the Iraq War; and 
Whereas, these benefits, such as 
a free one-year fishing 
license and free access to state parks would need to begin before 
the gO-day period ends; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency wi thin 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, 
Page l-LR0296(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~~, 
~.~. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A, to S.P. 204, L.D. 649 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1819-A is enacted to read: 
§1819-A. 
Day use passes for certain veterans 
Notwithstanding section 1819. the commissioner shall enter 
into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Defense. 
Veterans and Emergency Management for the issuance of a free day 
use pass to state parks and historic sites to each veteran 
determined by the Department of Defense. Veterans and Emergency 
Management 
to meet 
the criteria established in Title 
37-B. 
section 6. 
The pass entitles the holder. and the holder's spouse 
and children when accompanied by the holder. to admission free of 
charge to all state parks and historic sites for the period 
described in Title 37-B. section 6. 
This section is repealed 
June 30. 2010. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §10853, sub-§13 is enacted to read: 
13. 
Certain veterans. 
The commissioner shall enter into a 
memorandum of agreement with the Department of Defense. Veterans 
and Emergency Management for the issuance of a 
free resident 
hunting license and a 
free resident fishing license to each 
veteran determined by the Department of Defense. Veterans and 
Emergency Management to meet the criteria established in Title 
37-B. section 6 and other criteria for issuance of licenses. 
Each license is valid for the period described in Title 37-B. 
section 6. 
This subsection is repealed June 30. 2010. 
Sec.3. 37-B MRSA §6 is enacted to read: 
§6. 
ISSuance of free day use Pass and licenses 
The 
Commissioner 
of 
Defense. 
Veterans 
and 
Emergency 
Management. in accordance with a memorandum of agreement entered 
into with the Commissioner of Conservation and this section. 
shall issue a free day use pass to state parks and historic sites 
to eligible veterans. 
The commissioner. in accordance with a 
memorandum of agreement entered into with the Commissioner of 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and this section. shall issue a 
free 
fishing 
license 
and 
free 
hunting 
license 
to 
eligible 
veterans who meet other criteria of the Department of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife for the issuance of licenses. 
1. 
Eligibility. 
The Department of Defense. Veterans and 
Emergency Management shall determine. based on an examination of 
an individual's discharge certificate from active duty services. 
also known as the DD214. whether the following criteria are met: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
;.~ . 
.-. : ... \ >iii 
;'~io ... ~. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,~, to S.P. 204, L.D. 649 
A. 
The person is a resident of this State: 
B. 
The person received an honorable discharge or general 
discharge under honorable conditions: and 
C. 
Between October L 
2001 and January L 
2010, while a 
member of the Maine National Guard or an active or reserve 
member of the uniformed services as defined in 10 United 
States Code, 
Section 101(a)(5), the person served for 
a 
minimum of 3 continuous months outside the United States 
either: 
(1) 
On an operational mission for which members of the 
reserve were ordered to active duty: or 
(2) 
During a period of war declared by the United 
States 
Congress 
or 
a 
period of national 
emergency 
declared by the President of the United States or 
Congress. 
2. 
Duration of passes and licenses. 
A license or pass 
issued in accordance with this section is valid for a minimum of 
months from the date of an eligible yeteran' s discharge from 
active duty. 
The memoranda of agreement between the departments 
may allow issuance of passes or licenses for a period longer than 
months. 
3. 
Responsibilities of cQDmissioner. 
The Commissioner of 
Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management shall identify a point 
of contact within the department to issue licenses and passes in 
accordance with this section and the memoranda of 
agreement 
entered 
into 
with 
the 
Department 
of 
Conservation 
and 
the 
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. 
The commissioner 
shall periodically report to the Department of Conservation with 
a listing of the names and addresses of all persons receiving 
passes to state parks and historic sites and the expiration dates 
for those passes. 
The department shall periodically report to 
the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife with a listing of 
the names and addresses of all persons rece!y!ng fishing licenses 
and hunting licenses and the expiration dates for those licenses. 
4. 
RepeaJ. 
This section is repealed June 30, 2010. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. ' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A .. to S.P. 204, L.D. 649 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority report of the Joint Standing 
Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. 
It replaces 
the bill with a directive to the Department of Defense, Veterans 
and Emergency Management to enter into a memorandum of agreement 
with the Department of Conservation for the issuance of free day 
use passes to certain veterans and to enter into a memorandum of 
agreement with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
for the issuance of free hunting licenses and fishing licenses to 
certain veterans. 
It establishes criteria for eligibility to 
receive the free pass and licenses. 
The 
prov~s~ons for the 
complimentary pass and licenses are repealed June 30, 2010. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 05/13/05 ~ac 
LD649 
LR0296(02) 
An Act To Provide Access to Maine's Resources to Veterans of the Iraq War 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor revenue decrease - General Fund 
LR0296(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1