An Act To Repeal the Requirement That Alien Big Game Hunters Be Accompanied by Guides Licensed by the State
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0253
Committee Amendment CA_A_H396 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §11226, 12 MRSA §11226-A, 12 MRSA §11302

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A " to H.P. 199, L.D. 253, Bill, "An Act To 
Repeal the Requirement That Alien Big Game Hunters Be Accompanied by Guides 
Licensed by the State" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Alien Big Game and Turkey Hunters and 
Nonresident Hunters' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11226, as reallocated by PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. A, §16, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11226-A is enacted to read: 
§11226-A. Canadian big game hunter; guide required 
1. Definitions. For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, 
the following terms have the following meanings. 
A. "Big game" means bear, deer and moose. 
B. "Family member" means a parent, spouse, daughter or son or a grandchild who is 
less than 18 years of age. 
2. Prohibition. An alien resident of the Canadian province of New Brunswick or 
Quebec may not hunt big game or wild turkey without being accompanied by a person 
who holds a valid guide license pursuant to chapter 927 authorizing that person to act as a 
hunting guide unless that alien: 
A. Owns or leases land in the State; 
B. Is current on property taxes assessed for the land owned in the State; 
C. Keeps property owned or leased in the State open for hunting by the public; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 199, L.D. 253 
D. While hunting big game or wild turkey, possesses written authorization from the 
commissioner to hunt big game without a guide. 
An alien who resides in the Canadian province of New Brunswick or Quebec and who 
wishes to hunt big game or wild turkey without a guide must, at the time of application 
for a hunting license or permit to hunt big game or wild turkey, provide documentation to 
the commissioner that that person meets the requirements of this subsection. Upon 
determining that the applicant meets the criteria in this subsection and the applicant is not 
otherwise ineligible to hold a license or permit under this Part, the commissioner shall 
issue written authorization to hunt big game or wild turkey without a guide to the alien 
and that alien's family members who hold a valid license to hunt big game or wild turkey 
in the State. 
3. Penalty. The following penalties apply to violations of this section. 
A. A person who violates subsection 2 commits a civil violation for which a [me of 
not less than $100 or more than $500 may be adjUdged. 
B. A person who violates subsection 2 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. 
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §11302, sub-§2, 'irA, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 
and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
A. 
The total number of clients with a resident Maine guide may not be more than :J. 
.J. in order to satisfy the requirements of this subsection.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. It repeals the current prohibition on aliens hunting 
big game in the State without a guide and provides that an alien residing in New 
Brunswick or Quebec may not hunt big game or wild turkey in Maine without being 
accompanied by a licensed guide unless that alien has written authorization from the 
Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to hunt big game or wild turkey without a 
guide. The commissioner may not grant such authority unless the alien owns or leases 
real property in the State, is current on the property taxes for that land and keeps that 
owned or leased property open for hunting by the public. If an alien meets those criteria 
the commissioner must provide written permission to hunt big game or wild turkey in 
. Maine without a guide to that alien and the alien's immediate family members who also 
hold a Maine hunting license. 
Current law provides that a nonresident may not hunt bear with the use of dogs unless 
that person employs and hunts with a resident Maine guide and it limits the number of 
nonresident clients a guide can hunt with to 3 hunters. This amendment increases that 
number to 5. 
F[§CAL :-;OTE HEQURED 
~~ee attached) 
COMMI 
EE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 05124/09 frac:.. 
LD253 
LR32(05) 
An Act To Repeal the Reqnirement That Alien Big Game Hunters Be Accompanied! by Guides 
Licensed by the State 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '1\" 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Revenue 
General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Reduces civil cases and Class E crimes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2009-10 
2010-11 
($24,098) 
($32,131) 
$24,098 
$32,131 
A reduction in fines will decrease General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Projections 
2011-12 
($32,131) 
$32,131 
Projections 
2012-13 
($32,131) 
$32,131 
This bill would result in an increase in General Fund revenue to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife of 
$24,098 in fiscal year 2009-10 and $32,131 in fiscal year 2010-11. Additional costs to the Department of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0032(05) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1