An Act To Provide for the Designation of the Secretary of the Pull Events Commission
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0629
Committee Amendment CA_A_H100 (House)
Amends: 7 MRSA §96

. FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A " to H.P. 459, L.D. 629, Bill, "An Act To 
Provide for the Designation of the Secretary of the Pull Events Commission" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act Pertaining to the Laws Governing Pull Events I 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §96, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 563, §3, is amended to 
read: 
8. Administrative hearing; suspension. In lieu of a civil action under subsection 9, 
the commissioner may institute an administrative proceeding on any alleged violation of 
this section. 
If the commissioner institutes an administrative proceeding, the 
commissioner shall give notice and an opportunity for hearing under Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 4. Upon giving notice to a person who i~ alleged to be in violation of this 
section, the commissioner shall immediately prohibit that person from competing in an 
event within the State. 
This prohibition remains in effect for 30 days or until the 
commissioner's decision following the hearing is received, whichever occurs first, except 
that the prohibition period is extended by any delays of the hearing requested by the 
person against whom the violation is alleged. 
If the person against whom the violation is alleged does not request a hearing or if, after a 
hearing, the commissioner finds the person has committed the violation, the 
commissioner shall prohibit that person from competing in any event within the State for 
a period of up to 2 years and shall also exclude the animal from competing in any event 
within the State for a period of up to one year. The commissioner may also, in an 
adjudicatory proceeding, in lieu of a civil action under subsection 9, impose an 
administrative penalty not to exceed $1,000 for a violation ofthis section. 
The commissioner may establish, by rule, a schedule of administrative penalties for 
violations of this section that includes fines and prohibitions on competing. The schedule 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~-" 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 459, L.D. 629 
must be based on the severity of the violation. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection 
are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 2. 7 MRS A §98, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 563, §3, is amended to 
read: 
2. Chair; meetings; secretary. The Pull Events Commission shall elect one of its 
members as chair. 
The chair serves a 2-year term and may not serve as chair for 
consecutive terms. 
The commission shall meet a minimum of twice annually. 
The 
agricultural fair coordinator from the department shall commissioner shall designate a 
person to serve as secretary to the Pull Events Commission.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment allows the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources 
to designate any person to serve as secretary for the Pull Events Commission instead of 
an employee of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources. It also allows 
the commissioner to establish and impose a range of penalties for the use of prohibited 
substances in pulling events. Fines and prohibitions on competing are to be established 
through rulemaking with a maximum fine set in law. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03128/11 wac 
LD629 
LR 232(02) 
An Act To Provide for the Designation of the Secretary of the Pull Events Commission 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the DepaIiment of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources associated with rulemaking can be 
absorbed with existing staff and within existing budgeted resources. Any administrative penalties collected may 
increase General Fund revenues by minor amounts not requiring any change to the budget. 
LR0232(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1