An Act To Strengthen Maine's Endangered Species Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0713
Committee Amendment CA_A_H275 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §12808, 12 MRSA §12810

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "fr" to H.P. 518, L.D. 713, Bill, "An Act To 
Strengthen Maine's Endangered Species Laws" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12808, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 423, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
1. 
Prohibited acts regarding endangered or threatened species; negligence. 
Except as provided in section 12808-A, a person may not negligently: 
A. Import into the State or export out of the State any endangered or threatened 
species. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class E crime, for which a 
fine of $1, 000 must be adjudged, none of which may be suspended; 
B. Hunt, take, trap. harass or possess any endangered or threatened species within 
the State. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class E crime, for which a 
fine of $1, 000 must be adjudged, none of which may be suspended; 
C. Possess, process, sell, offer for sale, deliver, carry, transport or ship, by any means 
whatsoever, any endangered or threatened species or any part of an endangered or 
threatened species. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class E crimei 
for which a fine of $1,000 must be adjudged. none of which may be suspended; or 
D. Feed or, set bait for or harass any endangered or threatened species. Maw 
enforeement offieer, as defined in Title 25, seetion 2801 A, subseetion 5, must issue a 
warning to a person who violates this paragraph for the first time. A person who 
violates this paragraph after having pnwiously been given a warning Ufl.der this 
paragraph commits a Class E crime for which a fine of $1.000 must be adjudged, 
none of which may be suspended. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §12808, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2015, c. 423, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A "to H.P. 518, L.D. 713 
1-A. Prohibited acts regarding endangered or threatened species; intentional. 
Except as provided in section 12808-A, a person may not intentionally: 
A. Import into the State or export out of the State any endangered or threatened 
species. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class D crime, for which a 
fine of $2,000 must be adjudged, none of which may be suspended; 
B. Hunt, take, trap, harass or possess any endangered or threatened species within 
the State. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class D crime, for which 
a fine of $2,000 must be adjudged, none of which may be suspended; 
C. Possess, process, sell, offer for sale, deliver, carry, transport or ship, by any means 
whatsoever, any endangered or threatened species or any part of an endangered or 
threatened species. A person who violates this paragraph commits a Class D crime.,. 
for which a fine of $2, 000 must be adjudged, none of which may be suspended; or 
D. Feed or, set bait for or harass any endangered or threatened species. A-law 
enforoement offioer, as defined in Title 25, section 2801 A, subsection 5, must issue a 
waming to a person v.110 violates this paragraph for the first time. A person who 
violates this paragraph after having previously been given a warning under this 
paragraph commits a Class D crime, for which a fine of $2,000 must be adjudged, 
none of which may be suspended. 
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §12810, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 60, §2, is amended 
to read: 
2. Prohibited acts regarding delisted species. Except as otherwise authorized by 
the commissioner pursuant to this Part, a person may not intentionally: 
A. Import into the State or export out of the State a delisted species. A person who 
violates this paragraph commits a Class D crime, for which a fine of $2,000 must be 
adjudged, none of which may be suspended; 
B. Hunt, trap, harass or possess a delisted species within the State. A person who 
violates this paragraph commits a Class D crime, for which a fine of $2,000 must be 
adjudged, none of which may be suspended; or 
C. 
Process, sell, offer for sale, deliver, carry, transport or ship, by any means 
whatsoever, a delisted species or any part of a delisted species. A person who violates 
this paragraph commits a Class D crimet-er, for which a fine of $2,000 must be 
adjudged, none of which may be suspended. 
D. Feed, set bait for or harass a delisted species. A lmv enforoement officer, as 
defined in Title 25, seotion 2801 A, subseotion 5, must issue a waming to a person 
1.vho violates this paragraph for the first time. A person who violates this paragraph 
after having previously been given a waming under this paragraph commits a Glass D 
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Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Patt letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A" to H.P. 518, L.D. 713 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. This amendment: 
1. Provides that for conviction of certain Class E crimes of negligence related to 
endangered or threatened species, the maximum allowable fine of $1,000 must be 
adjudged; 
2. Removes the requirement that, for a first-time offense of negligently feeding, 
setting bait for or harassing any endangered or threatened species, a law enforcement 
officer must issue a warning; 
3. Provides that for conviction of certain Class D crimes involving intentional acts 
related to endangered or threatened species, the maximum allowable fine of $2,000 must 
be adjudged; 
4. Removes the requirement that, for a first-time offense of intentionally feeding, 
setting bait for or harassing any endangered or threatened species, a law enforcement 
officer must issue a warning; 
5. 
Provides that for conviction of certain Class D crimes involving intentional 
conduct related to a delisted species, the maximum allowable fine of $2,000 must be 
adjudged; 
6. Removes the requirement that, for a first-time offense of intentionally harassing a 
delisted species, a law enforcement officer must issue a warning; and 
7. Removes the prohibition on intentionally feeding or setting bait for a delisted 
species. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See 11ttaebed) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/03/19 feac 
LD713 
LR 731(02) 
An Act To Strengthen Maine's Endangered Species Laws 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A, (H-2 75) 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
The collection of additional fine revenue will increase General Fund and dedicated revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as a result of changes to the amounts of fines 
issued and penalties charged for violations are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted 
resources. 
LR0731(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1