An Act To Provide Access to Maine's Resources to Veterans of the Iraq War
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0649
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: BRYANT, ADAMS, CAIN, HUTTON, LUNDEEN, PATRICK, PINGREE, TWOMEY, WHEELER
Amends: 12 MRSA §1819, 12 MRSA §11109

Legislative Document 
No. 649 
S.P.204 
In Senate, February 8, 2005 
An Act To Provide Access to Maine's Resources to Veterans of the 
Iraq War 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator BRYANT of Oxford. 
Cosponsored by Representative BRYANT of Windham and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Representatives: ADAMS of Portland, CAIN of Orono, HUTTON of Bowdoinham, 
LUNDEEN of Mars Hill, PATRICK of Rumford, PINGREE of North Haven, TWOMEY of 
Biddeford, WHEELER of Kittery. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas. acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 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 90-day period ends; 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. I. 12 MRSA §1819, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 678, §13, is 
amended by adding after the 3rd paragraph a new paragraph to read: 
Any 
resident veteran of the Iraq War 
who 
has 
served a 
minimum of 90 days must be, if requested, issued a free pass for 
one year to state parks. 
"Iraq War" means service on active duty 
26· 
on or after March 20, 2003 and before or on the date that the 
United States Government recognizes as the end of that war period. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11109. sub-§3.,0 is enacted to read: 
O. 
A license to hunt, for a resident veteran of the Iraq 
War who has served a minimum of 90 days, is free of charge 
for one season. 
"Iraq War" means service on active duty on 
or after March 20, 2003 and before or on the date that the 
Uni ted States Government recognizes as the end of that war 
period. 
Sec. 3. 12 MRS A §12501, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, 
Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
2. 
El.iqibil.ity. 
The commissioner may issue the following 
licenses to the following persons: 
A. 
A resident fishing license to a resident 16 years of age 
or older; aRel 
B. 
A nonresident fishing license to a nonresident 12 years 
of age or olderT; and 
C. 
A free resident fishing license for one season to a 
resident veteran of the Iraq: War who has served a minimum of 
days. 
"Iraq: War" means service on active duty on or 
after March 20, 
2003 and before or on the date that the 
United States Government recognizes as the end of that war 
period. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill recognizes resident veterans of the Iraq War who 
have served a minimum of 90 days by allowing them a free one-year 
pass to state parks and free hunting and fishing licenses.