An Act to Amend the Lobster Fishing Laws of Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1510
Committee Amendment CA_A_S183 (Senate)
Amends: 12 MRSA §6421, 12 MRSA §6431-F, 12 MRSA §6446, 12 MRSA §6462-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A to S.P. 526, L.D. 1510, Bill, "An 
Act To Amend the Lobster Fishing Laws of Maine" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 1, 2 and 3 
and inserting in their place the following: 
· Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6421, sub-§5-A, as amended by PL 2003, c. 
468, §2, is further amended to read: 
5-A. 
Student license eliqibility. 
A student license may 
9R~y be issued ~ 
to a person who, at the time of application, 
is a full-time student 8 years of aga or older and under 23 years 
of age. 
For the purposes of this subsection, "full-time student" 
means ~S~QQeR~~-a6-ee~4Ree-~~~~~~~-~r~~~-~~br-Sa9see~i9R 
gT-~a~a~~a~a-bTl 
A. 
A person attending a public day school in accordance 
with the 
attendance 
reguirement 
of Title 
20-A. 
section 
500l-A, subsection 1; 
B. 
A person meeting the reguirements of an alternative to 
attendance at public day school in accordance with Title 
20-A. section 500l-A. subsection 3; or 
C. 
A person enrolled in a full-time course of study at a 
college 
or 
university 
accredited 
by 
a 
state-recognized 
accrediting agency or body. 
Page l-LR0627(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ~, to S.P. 526, L.D. 1510 
A person may not be considered to have ceased to be a student 
during any interim between school years if the interim does not 
exceed 5 months and if it is shown that the person has a bona 
fide intention of continuing to pursue a 
full-time course of 
study during the semester or other enrollment period immediately 
following the interim period. 
For purposes of this subsection, 
"full-time course of study" means at least 60% 
of the usual 
course load for the program in which the person is enrolled. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6431-F, as amended by PL 2003, c. 510, Pt. 
A, §6, is further amended to read: 
§6431-F. Trap tags 
1. Trap tag 1imits. 
8e~iBBiB~-~~~-~ae-2QQQ--~~-yeaFT 
t::ae ~ following provisions govern trap tag limits app.,ly--t.e 
:aelaeFs-~~-~~-~7--bla&&--~~-~--bla66--~~~--~--~-eFaB 
'is:aiB~-lieeBses. 
AT-~~-~~-*ieeR&e-he.,lQ~~-~~~&-ef-~-~r-1998 
'eF-~~-~~~S-.,l4€~£5~-~--Bet:weeB-~~~RG-2QQ-~~~-t:a~sT 
t::ae-.,l4eeB6e-he.,lQ~~-~-~-~~~~-~--~-t.Fap-t:a~s 
feF-~4i~-i-n-i~-i-u,l--l-~-yeaF ... --i'e~--eaE:'&'..f-o-~l-ow-i-nq--yeaFr-e:ae 
lieeBse-~~-~y-~~€ha5~-~-ee-~-~&&F&a~-e~-~-eFap 
t:a~s--eaE:.&.~--a&-*eB~-~~~-t.et.a*-£~~-~-~~-eHeeea 
t::ae-t:~ap-*4m4t:-~~~45h~-~-~~~..f~-~~-~-~a-waiea-e:ae 
peFseB-'is:aes-a-ma;eFit:y-e'-t::aat:-peFseB~s-t:FapsT 
B. 
H-~.f:}e...-l-~-:aelEleF-"P\H-€~~-ef-~-~r-1998 
feF-~~-1998-~-i~-yeaF-~~-~F-me~~-~~~-t:a~5T-..f~--t::ae 
iBit:ial--~~a~-~~--~4i~-lieeBse-~~F-~-~~€~~-a 
BamBeF-~~-~~~-t:a~6--~~-~~~--~ha£--1~~-~~-~~-t::ae 
B~eF-t:he-~-i~~~-p~Feaa&eQ-a6-~-~--~r-1998 
feF-~.f:}e...-l_~~-.,l4eeB5e-~--a&-.,l~-~-eaae-~-~-Bee 
eHeeea-~~-~Fa~-.,l4m4t:-~~l-~-BY-~~~-~F-t:h~-~-iB 
w:aie:a-~.f:}e...~~-fisaes-~~~r~-ef-~~-~~~-t:FapsT 
~eF-~a€~..f~-yeaFr-t.:ae Each year, a Class I, Class II 
or Class III lobster and crab fishing license holder may 
purchase a number of trap tags that is not greater than 100 
more than the number the license holder purchased for the 
previous license year as long as the total number purchased 
does not exceed the number of traps allowed under the lowest 
trap limit established by rule for the 
159Be--~-.w,h.i%--t.:ae 
peFs9B--'is:aes--a--ma;9Fit:y--9f--t::aae--peFs9B~s--t:Faps zones 
identified on that person's license pursuant to section 
6446, subsection I-A. 
2. Exceptions. 
Notwithstanding subsection I, the following 
trap tag limits apply: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,~, to S.P. 526, L.D. 1510 
A. If the license holder was issued a Class I, Class II or 
Class III lobster and crab fishing license for the first 
time 
after 
meeting 
the 
requirements 
of 
the 
apprentice 
program under 
section 6422, 
the license holder 
may 
not 
purchase more than 300 trap tags for the initial license 
year. 
For 
each 
following year, 
the license 
holder 
may 
purchase up to an increase of 100 trap tags each year as 
long as the total number purchased does not exceed the 
number 
of 
traps 
allowed 
under 
the 
lowest 
trap 
limit 
established by rule for the seBe-~£-~~~~~-~~~&-~ishes 
a--maj-€l-l'..,i_t-y-_e_f..-t.hat.--pe-r~'-6--t:Fa~s zones identified on that 
person's license pursuant to section 6446. subsection I-A; 
and 
BT--~~-_t~-~~~~~-wa&-~ssQee-a-~~~-~r~~-~~-eF 
blass--~~~--~&~~-~-~~-~..,i~~-~~€eB~~-PQ~6QaBt.--t:e 
~eFmeF-~~-~4~~7--&~&&eet:~ea-~-pa~a~~aph-~--€l-I'--~eFmeF 
seetieB--e46*-AT--sQsseet:ieB--1T--~aFa~Fa~h--PT--t:he--lieeBse 
heleeF-~-Bet.--~~FGaa&e-~~-thaB--~-t.~ap--&~&-~-€l-I'--the 
iBitial-~..,i~-~~r-¥e~-~-f..e~~w~~-Y~~7-~~-lieeBse 
heleeF-may-~~~-~-aB-~Be~ea6e-~-~~~~~-t:~&-eaeh 
yeaF-~-~-as-_t~-~t:a~-BamBe~-~-aet:-~€~-~~-tFa~ 
limit:-~~~~~~~-F~~e-~e~--t~-~&&-4B-~~-~-~etseB 
~ishes-a-~a;9Fi~y-e~-that-~etSeB~s-tta~Sf-aBe 
C. If the license holder was issued a Class I, Class II or 
Class III lobster and crab fishing license on appeal, the 
license holder may purchase for the initial license year a 
number of trap tags up to the number of trap tags purchased 
by the person for the most recent year in which the person 
held a license if-t.he-~~~~~~-~~-~-~~~-eF-latet 
eF-~-t:~?-~a~6--~--~he-~~-e~e-~-~~-a--~~-iB 
199&-eF-Ja~eF. 
For each following year, the license holder 
may purchase up to an increase of 100 trap tags each year .... 
,*,he--nufAbe..l:..-&-t--&~~--t~-may as long as the total number 
purchased does not exceed the number of traps allowed under 
the lowest trap limit established by rule for the s9ae-4R 
whieh--t~-pe1'-&eB-.f..,i~-he6--a--maje~..,it.y--e-~-t.hat.--pe-r~'-6--tFa~s 
zones 
identified 
on 
that 
person's 
license 
pursuant 
to 
section 6446. subsection I-A. 
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eemmissieBeF-fe£-aee..,it...,ie£aJ-~~~_t~--~~~~~&&-~&-as 
~ellewsT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT A" to S.P. 526, L.D. 1510 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ~, to S.p. 526, L.D. 1510 
4. Trap limit. 
A person may not FQ~eha6e submerge a number 
of ~~aF-ta~6 traps greater than the number of traps allowed under 
the lowest trap limit established by rule for --a--
the lobster 
management BeBe-~~~~a-~ha~-~~-~ishe6 zones identified on 
that person's license pursuant to section 6446, subsection I-A. 
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §6446, sub-§I-A, as amended by PL 2003, c. 
466, §2 and affected by §5, is further amended to read: 
I-A. 
Declared lobster zone; 
authorized zones. 
A--Fe~6eB 
6hall-Qeela~e-eB Un an application for a Class I, Class II, Class 
III or noncommercial lobster and crab fishing license, a person 
shall declare 
the lobster management zone in which that person 
proposes to fish a majority of that person's lobster traps and 
shall list all other zones in which that person proposes to fish 
any of that person's lobster traps. 
A Class I, Class II, Class 
III 
or 
noncommercial 
lobster 
and 
crab 
fishing 
license 
must 
identify the 
declared lobster 
zone 
in which 
the 
person is 
authorized to fish a majority of that person's lobster traps and 
must identify all other zones in which a person is authorized to 
fish that person's traps. 
A person may not place any lobster 
traps in a zone that is not identified on that person's license. 
For the purposes of this subsection, the majority of a person's 
lobster traps must be determined from the number of trap tags 
issued to that person.' 
Further amend the bill in section 4 in subsection 2 in 
paragraph E by striking out all of the first 6 lines (page 5, 
lines 
to 
in L.D. ) 
and inserting in their place 
the 
following: 
'E. 
When a lobster management policy council proposes to 
the commissioner 
a 
change in the exit ratio established 
under paragraph C and a new exit ratio is adopted by rule 
under 
this 
subsection, 
the 
commissioner 
shall 
allow 
individuals who meet the following conditions to enter the 
zone in accordance with the previously existing exit ratio:' 
Further amend the bill in section 4 
in subsection 2 by 
inserting after paragraph E the following: 
'F. 
When a lobster management policy council proposes to 
the commissioner to establish an exit ratio for the first 
time to limit new zone entrants under paragraph A, it may 
also propose to the commissioner a provision to exempt from 
the exit ratio, upon completion of the apprentice program, 
an individual who has completed at least 92% of the hours 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ~, to S.P. 526, L.D. 1510 
required and at least 92% 
of the days required by the 
apprentice program established under section 6422 
by the 
date the commissioner receives written notification from the 
lobster management policy council pursuant to paragraph D.' 
Further amend the bill by inserting after section 4 the 
following: 
'Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §6462-A, sub-§I, 1I'D, as enacted by PL 1997, 
c. 208, §3, is amended to read: 
D. 
Three persons who hold lobster and crab fishing licenses 
and 
who 
are 
not 
members 
of 
lobster 
management 
policy 
councils established under section 6447, appointed by the 
commissioner. 
Each person appointed under this paragraph 
must reside in a different county. 
One person appointed 
under this paragraph must hold a noncommercial lobster and 
crab fishing license.' 
Further amend the bill by inserting after section 9 the 
following: 
'Sec. 10. Retroactivity. 
That portion of this Act that enacts 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 6448, subsection 2, 
paragraph E applies retroactively to April 1, 2005. 
That portion 
of this Act that enacts Title 12, section 6448, subsection 2, 
paragraph F applies retroactively to October 1, 2004.' 
Further amend the 
nonconsecutive 
Part 
consecutively. 
bill by 
letter 
relettering 
or 
section 
SUMMARY 
This amendment does the following. 
or renumbering any 
number 
to 
read 
1. 
It clarifies 
the 
provision 
of 
the bill 
regarding 
eligibility for a student license. 
2. 
It amends the language in the bill regarding trap tag 
limits to clarify that a license holder is limited to the number 
of traps allowed under the lowest trap limit for the zones 
identified on the person's license. 
3. 
It clarifies the language in the bill regarding the 
lobster management zones that must be identified on a lobster 
license. 
COMM/rrEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT A" to S.P. 526, L.D. 1510 
4. 
It amends the provision of the bill regarding changes in 
exi t ratios in lobster management zones to provide that for any 
zone that proposes 
a 
change in an existing exit ratio, 
the 
commissioner 
shall 
allow 
a 
person 
who 
has 
completed 
the 
apprentice program and is on the waiting list by the date the 
commissioner is notified of the proposed change to enter the 
zone. 
The bill made this an option of the lobster management 
policy council. 
The amendment also makes this provision of the 
bill apply retroactively to April 1, 2005. 
5. 
It adds a provision to the bill to provide that when a 
zone proposes an exit ratio for the first time, the zone may 
propose a provision to exempt from the ratio, upon completion of 
the apprentice program, a person who has completed at least 92Q.o 
of the requirements of the program by the date the commissioner 
is notified of the proposed ratio. 
The amendment also makes this 
provision apply retroactively to October 1, 2004. 
6. 
It adds a prov1s1on to the bill to require that one of 
the 3 lobster and crab fishing license holders on the Lobster 
Advisory Council be a noncommercial license holder. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/09/05 ..:tv'ae. 
LD 1510 
LR0627(02) 
An Act to Amend the Lobster Fishing Laws of Maine 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A' 
Committee: Marine Resources 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2005-06 
2006-07 
Projections 
2007-08 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
$2,000 
$2,000 
$2,000 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Projections 
2008-09 
$2,000 
Beginning in fiscal year 2005-06, the Department of Marine Resources will require additional annual Other Special 
Revenue Funds allocations of $2,000 for the costs of reimbursing certain travel expenses. 
LR0627(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1