An Act To Amend Maine's Fish and Wildlife Licensing Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0552
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: LYFORD, REED, THERIAULT
Amends: 12 MRSA §10853, 12 MRSA §11154, 12 MRSA §12953

Legislative Document
No. 552
H.P. 394
House of Representatives, February 14, 2017
An Act To Amend Maine's Fish and Wildlife Licensing Laws
Submitted by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife pursuant to Joint Rule 204.
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative LYFORD of Eddington.
Cosponsored by Representatives: REED of Carmel, THERIAULT of China.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §10853, sub-§17 is enacted to read: 
17.  Group fishing license for persons with disabilities.  In addition to other 
licenses issued by the commissioner pursuant to this section, the commissioner may issue 
a complimentary group fishing license to a person or entity that allows a group of persons 
with disabilities to fish in a location for a period of time as specified on the license. 
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §11154, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2011, c. 370, §5, is further 
amended to read: 
5.  Eligibility.  Except as provided in this subsection, a resident, nonresident or alien 
who is eligible to obtain a Maine hunting license or who will be eligible to obtain a 
Maine hunting license by the opening day of the open moose season is eligible to apply 
for a moose hunting permit.  Beginning in 2011, a A person who has obtained a moose 
hunting permit is ineligible to obtain another permit until 3 years have elapsed the 4th 
calendar year after the issuance of the last permit.  This limitation does not apply to 
subpermittees under subsection 7. 
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §12953, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2015, c. 281, Pt. F, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
4.  Examination.  An applicant for a license shall appear at a time and place 
designated by the commissioner to be examined by means of written, practical and oral 
tests as the commissioner determines.  The commissioner shall determine the form and 
content of examinations.  The examination fee is $50 and is nonrefundable.  An applicant 
may retake the examination once without paying an additional examination fee. 
Sec. 4.  12 MRSA §12953, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2015, c. 281, Pt. F, §3, is 
further amended to read: 
6.  License and fee.  License applicants who successfully meet the qualifications set 
forth in this section must be issued a license upon payment of a $77 fee for a 3-year 
license.  This fee is in addition to the $50 examination application fee required for a first-
time applicant. 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes the following changes to the fish and wildlife licensing laws. 
1.  It eliminates the $50 examination fee for a taxidermy license. 
2.  It clarifies the length of the period of time during which a person who has 
obtained a moose hunting permit is ineligible to obtain another permit. 
3.  It authorizes the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to issue a 
complimentary group fishing license to a person or entity that allows a group of persons 
with disabilities to fish in a location for a period of time as specified on the license.