An Act To Require Permits for Wildlife in Captivity and Notification of the Escape of Exotic Wildlife in Captivity
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0305
Committee Amendment CA_B_S284 (Senate)
Amends: 12 MRSA §12151, 12 MRSA §12152

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" ,3" to S.P. 91, L.D. 305, Bill, "An Act To Require 
Permits for Wildlife in Captivity and Notification of the Escape of Exotic Wildlife in 
Captivity" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Increase the Penalty for Allowing Wildlife in Captivity To Escape in 
Violation of a Permit Requirement' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12151, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2015, c. 374, §§3 and 4, is 
further amended to read: 
2. Penalties. +he Except as provided in section 12152, subsection 7, the following 
penalties apply to violations of this section. 
A. A person who violates subsection 1 commits a civil violation for which a fine of 
not less than $500 may be adjudged. 
B. A person who violates subsection 1 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. 
C. The department may seize fish or wildlife in accordance with sections 10502 and 
10503 from a person who violates subsection 1. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §12152, sub-§7 is enacted to read: 
7. 
Escaped wildlife prohibition; penalty. 
The following provisions apply to 
escaped wildlife. 
A. A person may not allow wildlife in captivity to escape that person's possession or 
control in violation of: 
(1) Rules adopted pursuant to subsection 5: or 
Page I - 128LR0590(04)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ft. cf s. 
I 
II 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "8" to S.P. 91, L.D. 305 
(2) 
An additional permit condition or requirement assigned pursuant to 
subsection 6. 
B. Notwithstanding section 12151, subsection 2, a person who violates paragraph A 
commits: 
(1) A Class E crime if the wildlife is permitted in accordance with this section 
and the permit holder does not immediately notify a law enforcement officer that 
the wildlife has escaped; 
(2) A Class E crime if the wildlife is not permitted in accordance with this 
section and the person immediately notifies a law enforcement officer that the 
wildlife has escaped; or 
(3) A Class D crime if the wildlife is not permitted in accordance with this 
section and the person does not immediately notify a law enforcement officer that 
the wildlife has escaped.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment changes the title and replaces the bill. The bill provides that a permit 
is required to import exotic wildlife or possess wildlife in the State or receive exotic 
wildlife and stipulates the requirements for that permit. The amendment provides that a 
person who allows wildlife in captivity to escape that person's possession or control in 
violation of rules governing keeping wildlife in captivity or an additional permit 
condition or requirement commits a Class E crime if the person does not immediately 
notify a law enforcement officer or if the person notifies a law enforcement officer but 
the wildlife is not permitted. If the wildlife is not permitted and escapes and the person 
does not immediately notify a law enforcement officer, the person commits a Class D 
crime. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/15/17 fe.ac 
LD305 
LR 590(04) 
An Act To Require Permits for Wildlife in Captivity and Notification of the Escape of Exotic Wildlife 
in Captivity 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '}3' ( S-;). tcj) 
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 Class D and Class E crimes. 
The collection of additional fines may also increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
LR0590(04) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1