An Act Regarding the Authority of the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife To Issue Permits to Beagle Clubs To Trap Snowshoe Hares
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0503
Committee Amendment CA_A_H35 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §12261

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A to H.P. 386, L.D. 503, Bill, "An Act Regarding 
the Authority of the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife To Issue Permits to 
Beagle Clubs To Trap Snowshoe Hares" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act Regarding the Authority of the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries 
and Wildlife To Issue Licenses to Beagle Clubs To Trap Snowshoe Hares' 
Amend the bill in the 2nd paragraph after the title in the 2nd line (page 1, line 4 in 
L.D.) by striking out the following: "permits" and inserting in its place the following: 
'licenses' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12261 is enacted to read: 
§12261. Beagle clubs; trapping snowshoe hares 
The commissioner may issue a license to an organization recognized as a beagle club 
by the commissioner to take live snowshoe hares. 
1. License required. Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part, a beagle 
club may not trap a snowshoe hare without a valid license issued under this section. 
A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine 
of not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged. 
B. 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. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A to H.P. 386, L.D. 503 
2. Traps labeled and checked daily. 
A beagle club may not set a trap for a 
snowshoe hare unless that trap is plainly labeled with the name of the beagle club and the 
telephone number of a contact person and is checked at least once every calendar day. 
A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine 
of not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged. 
B. 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. Use of snowshoe hares. A snowshoe hare trapped pursuant to this section may 
not be used for anything other than to stock the running areas of the licensee and may not 
be given to any other beagle club or entity. 
A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine 
of not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged. 
B. 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. 
4. Transport out of State. A snowshoe hare trapped pursuant to this section may 
not be transported out of the State. 
A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine 
of not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged. 
B. 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. 
5. Trapping season for snowshoe hares. A beagle club may not trap for snowshoe 
hares except between September 1 st and April 30th of each calendar year. 
A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine 
of not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged. 
B. 
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. 
6. Cottontail rabbits. A beagle club may not keep and must release immediately a 
cottontail rabbit caught in a trap. 
A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine 
of not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjudged. 
B. 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. 
7. Reporting of trapped cottontail rabbits. As a condition of licensure under this 
section, a beagle club shall file with the department no later than July 1 st of each calendar 
year a report of cottontail rabbits trapped pursuant to this section.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 14' to H.P. 386, L.D. 503 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority report of the committee. It rewords the bill to 
conform to the standard language for prohibited acts under the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 12, Part 13. This amendment provides civil penalties for violations regarding the 
trapping of snowshoe hares by beagle clubs. 
FISCAL :\OrE HE(JURED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/]4/07 
~ac. 
LD503 
LR280(02) 
An Act Regarding the Authority of the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife To Issue 
Permits to Beagle Clubs To Trap Snowshoe Hares 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committe Amendment "A" 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Establishes new civil violations and Class E crimes. 
The collection of additional fines may also increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
LR0280(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1