An Act To Create an Advisory Committee To Review and Make Recommendations Regarding Hunting and Fishing Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0157
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: POULIOT, DUTREMBLE, COREY, CRAFTS, HILLIARD, SHAW, SAVIELLO
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I, 12 MRSA §10158

Legislative Document 
No. 157 
H.P. 115 
House of Representatives, January 27, 2015 
An Act To Create an Advisory Committee To Review and Make 
Recommendations Regarding Hunting and Fishing Laws 
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative POULIOT of Augusta. 
Cosponsored by Senator DUTREMBLE of York and 
Representatives: COREY of Windham, CRAFTS of Lisbon, HILLIARD of Belgrade, SHAW 
of Standish, Senator: SAVIELLO of Franklin. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§49-D is enacted to read: 
49-D.    
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §10158 is enacted to read: 
§10158.  Hunting and Fishing Law Review Advisory Committee 
1.  Appointment and composition.  The Hunting and Fishing Law Review Advisory 
Committee, referred to in this section as "the advisory committee" and established by 
Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 49-D, consists of the following 14 members: 
A.  A member of the Senate who sits on the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters, appointed 
by the President of the Senate; 
B.  A member of the House of Representatives who sits on the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife 
matters, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
C.  The deputy commissioner or the deputy commissioner's designee; and 
D.  Eleven members appointed by the commissioner: 
(1)  Two members of the advisory council; 
(2)  An active game warden; 
(3)  A member of the board or staff of a statewide organization of sportsmen; 
(4)  A member of the board or staff of a statewide association of professional 
guides; 
(5)  A member of the board or staff of a statewide association of owners of 
sporting camps; 
(6)  A member of the board or staff of a state chapter of a national organization 
dedicated to bird conservation; and 
(7)  Four members of fish and game clubs or associations located in the State. 
2.  Chair and officers.  The advisory committee from among its members shall elect 
a chair, who shall preside over the advisory committee and set advisory committee 
meeting dates and times, and a secretary, who shall record the meetings and all 
recommendations of the advisory committee. 
3.  Term; vacancy.  Except for the deputy commissioner or the deputy 
commissioner's designee, members of the advisory committee serve for 2 years.  When a 
Inland Fisheries 
and Wildlife 
Hunting and Fishing 
Law Review 
Advisory Committee 
Not Authorized 
MRSA §10158 
vacancy occurs, except for the deputy commissioner or the deputy commissioner's 
designee, a new member must be appointed from the same category pursuant to 
subsection 1 as the member who vacated the advisory committee, and that new member 
continues to serve for the remainder of the term. 
4.  Staffing.  The department shall provide administrative and staff support to the 
advisory committee. 
5.  Duties.  The advisory committee shall: 
A.  Review inland fisheries and wildlife laws and rules and make recommendations 
to the commissioner regarding necessary new laws or rules or changes necessary to 
simplify, clarify or eliminate confusing, outdated or unnecessary laws or rules; and 
B.  Conduct an annual survey of licensees and permittees under subpart 4 on various 
inland fisheries and wildlife issues in the State as determined by the advisory 
committee. 
Sec. 3.  Staggered terms.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, 
section 10158, subsection 3, of the 11 initial members appointed to the Hunting and 
Fishing Law Review Advisory Committee by the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife, the commissioner shall designate 7 appointees to serve one-year terms. 
SUMMARY 
This bill creates the Hunting and Fishing Law Review Advisory Committee under the 
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to review inland fisheries and wildlife laws 
and rules and make recommendations to the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife regarding any necessary changes and conduct an annual survey of holders of 
fishing and hunting licenses and permits on various inland fisheries and wildlife issues in 
the State.