An Act To Regulate the Use of Alternative Bait in Marine Fisheries Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the ti tIe and before the summary and inserting in its place the following: Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and Whereas, the unregulated use of animal hides and other remains as lobster bait poses significant and immediate risks to public health, lobster health and the Maine lobster industry; 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,
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0527
Committee Amendment CA_A_S148 (Senate)
Amends: 12 MRSA §6175, 12 MRSA §6432-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A, to S.P. 153, L.D. 527, Bill, "An 
Act To Authorize the Commissioner of Marine Resources To Regulate 
the Use of Alternative Bait in Marine Fisheries" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
'An Act To 
Regulate the Use of Alternative Bait in Marine 
Fisheries' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the 
ti tIe and before the summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the unregulated use 
of 
animal 
hides 
and other 
remains as lobster bait poses significant and immediate risks to 
public health, lobster health and the Maine lobster industry; 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 §6175 is enacted to read: 
Page l-LR1988(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A" to S.P. 153, L.D. 527 
§6l75. 
Alternative bait 
The commissioner may adopt rules to regulate the use of 
alternative bait in marine fisheries. 
For the purposes of this 
section. 
"alternative 
bait" 
means 
any 
bait 
that 
does 
not 
naturally originate from the ocean. 
Rules adopted pursuant to 
this section must be adopted in accordance with the procedures in 
subchapter 2 and are routine technical rules as defined in Title 
5. chapter 375. subchapter 2 A. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6432-A is enacted to read: 
§6432-A. 
Bait 
1. 
Offal prohihited. 
A person may not use offal as bait to 
fish for or take lobster or crabs. 
For the purposes of this 
section. "offal" means the carcass, waste parts. renderings or 
remains of a wild or domesticated animal that is not a marine 
organism. but does not include animal hide from which the hair 
has been removed. 
2. 
Prima facie evidence. 
The possession of offal while 
fishing for or taking lobster or crabs is prima facie evidence of 
a violation of this section. 
Sec. 3. Effective date. 
That section of this Act that enacts 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12. section 6432-A takes effect 
January I. 2006. 
Emergency clause. 
preamble, 
this 
Act 
otherwise indicated.' 
In view of 
takes 
effect 
the emergency cited in 
when 
approved, 
except 
SUMMARY 
the 
as 
This amendment replaces the bill. 
The amendment retains the 
provision of the bill that authorizes the Commissioner of Marine 
Resources to adopt rules to regulate the use of alternative bait 
and adds language to define alternative bait. 
The amendment adds 
an emergency preamble making the rule-making authority effective 
upon enactment. 
The amendment also adds a provision of law that 
prohibits the use of offal as bait for lobster or crabs, with 
offal defined as the carcass, waste parts, renderings or remains 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
r 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,~, to S.P. 153, L.D. 527 
of a 
wild or domestic animal that is not a 
marine organism, 
except for animal hide from which the hair has been removed. 
This prohibition takes effect January 1, 2006. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/25/05 ~ac:.. 
LD527 
LR 1988(02) 
An Act To Authorize the Commissioner of Marine Resources To Regulate the Use of Alternative Bait 
in Marine Fisheries 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "A 
Committee: Marine Resources 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
LR1988(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1