An Act To Establish an Apprenticeship Hunter License Program
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0486
Committee Amendment CA_A_H238 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §11108-B, 12 MRSA §11109

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " 
to H.P. 370, L.D. 486, Bill, "An Act To 
Establish an Apprenticeship Hunter License Program" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 6 to 8 and inserting the following: 
'Sec.6. 12 MRSA §11108-B is enacted to read: 
§11108-B. Apprenticeship hunter license restrictions 
1. Supervisor required. A holder of an apprenticeship hunter license may not hunt 
other than in the presence of a person at least 18 years of age who holds a valid Maine 
hunting license. 
A. The following penalties apply to violations of this subsection. 
(I) A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a 
fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000 may be adjudged. 
(2) A person who violates this subsection after having been adjudicated as 
having committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 
5-year period commits a Class E crime. 
2. Supervisor eligibility and responsibility. A supervisor must have held a valid 
hunting license for the prior 5 consecutive years to be qualified to supervise a holder of 
an apprenticeship license. A supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the holder of an 
apprenticeship hunter license follows safe hunting protocol and the laws under this Part. 
A supervisor may not intentionally permit a person hunting under an apprenticeship 
hunter license with that supervisor to violate subsection 1. 
A. The following penalties apply to violations of this subsection. 
(I) A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a 
fine of not less than $500 must be adjudged. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 370, L.D. 486 
(2) A person who violates this subsection after having been adjudicated as 
having committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 
5-year period commits a Class E crime. 
3. Eligibility. A person who is 16 years of age or older and not a holder of a valid 
hunting license or junior hunting license may hold an apprenticeship hunter license. A 
person may not be issued an apprenticeship hunter license after having held an 
apprenticeship hunter license under section 11109. 
4. Expiration of apprenticeship hunter license. An apprenticeship hunter license 
is valid for up to 12 calendar months and expires on December 31 st. 
5. Definition. For purposes of this section, "in the presence of" means in visual and 
voice contact without the use of visual or audio enhancement devices, including 
binoculars and citizen band radios. For purposes of this section. "supervisor" means a 
person or persons who are 18 years of age or older, hold a valid Maine hunting license 
and are hunting with a person holding an apprenticeship hunter license. 
Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§3, ~-1 is enacted to read: 
E-l. A resident apprenticeship hunter license, which includes a bear hunting permit 
and a wild turkey hunting permit under sections 11151 and 11155 respectively, is 
m 
Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§3,,0 is enacted to read: 
O. 
A nonresident small game apprenticeship hunter license, which permits the 
hunting of all legal species except deer, bear, turkey, moose, raccoon and bobcat. is 
$67. 
Sec. 9. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§3, ~ 
is enacted to read: 
P. A nonresident big game apprenticeship hunter license, which permits the hunting 
of all legal species and includes a bear hunting permit and a wild turkey hunting 
permit under sections 11151 and 11155 respectively, is $102.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment modifies the apprenticeship hunter license restriction provisions of 
the bill to: 
1. Remove provisions that allow a person who does not hold a Maine hunting license 
1 
but has passed a hunter safety course to serve as a supervisor to an apprentice hunter; 
2. Increase the fine for a person hunting under an apprenticeship hunter license 
without being in the presence of a supervisor from a fine of not less than $100 and not 
more than $500 to a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000; 
3. Provide that a supervisor must have held a hunting license for the prior 5 years to 
be eligible to be a supervisor and provide that the supervisor is responsible for ensuring 
that the apprentice hunter follows safe hunting protocol and hunting laws; 
4. Provide that a supervisor may not intentionally permit a person hunting under an 
apprenticeship hunter license with that supervisor to hunt outside of that supervisor's 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·ff" to H.P. 370, L.D. 486 
presence and make a violation of that requirement a civil violation for which a fine of not 
less than $500 must be imposed; 
5. Provide that a person is eligible to hold an apprenticeship hunter license only once 
and that the license expires on December 31 st; 
6. Provide that a resident and a nonresident big game apprenticeship hunter license 
each includes a bear hunting permit and a wild turkey hunting permit and that the resident 
license costs $21 and the nonresident license costs $102; and 
7. Provide for a nonresident small game apprenticeship hunter license for $67. 
FISCAL .'.'OTE REQllRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Revenue 
General Fund 
Approved: 05/11107 .;?dac:.. 
LD486 
LR637(02) 
An Act To Establish an Apprenticeship Hunter License Program 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment"~ " 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2007-08 
$0 
$0 
2008-09 
($10,550) 
$10,550 
Projections 
2009-10 
($10,550) 
$10,550 
Projections 
2010-11 
($10,550) 
$10,550 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Establishes new civil violations and Class E crimes. Sentences for a Class E crime must be served in a County Jail. 
The average cost to a county for each Class E sentence is $2,959 based on an average length of stay of 27 days. The 
collection of additional fines may also increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The establishment of fees for various apprenticeship hunter licenses will result in an increase in General Fund 
revenue collected by the Department oflnland Fisheries and Wildlife. Beginning in fiscal year 2008-09, the 
estimated annual amount is $10,555. The Governor's proposed General Fund budgeted appropriations for the 
department exceed budgeted General Fund revenue to be collected by the department by $1,902,136 and $2,399,297 in 
fiscal years 2007-08 and 2008-09, respectively. If the total amounts of budgeted departmental General Fund revenue 
approved by the 1st Session of the 123rd Legislature exceed the appropriated amounts, the Legislature will be required 
to appropriate additional General Fund amounts to meet the constitutional requirement that the total level of General 
Fund appropriations must be at least equal to the undedicated revenue collected by the department. 
LR0637(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1