An Act To Clarify and Enhance Maine's Fish and Wildlife Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1921
Committee Amendment CA_A_H721 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §12201, 12 MRSA §12204

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1369, L.D. 1921, Bill, "An Act To 
Clarify and Enhance Maine's Fish and Wildlife Laws" 
Amend the bill in section 6 in § 11108-C by striking out all of subsection 4 (page 2, 
lines 36 to 38 and page 3, lines 1 to 8 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
14. Supervision of junior hunters 16 years of age. A hunter 16 years of age who 
obtained a junior hunting license before that person reached 16 years of age may not hunt 
with that license unless the person is in the presence of and under the effective control of 
an adult a junior hunter supervisor or the person has successfully completed a hunter 
safety course acceptable under section 11105 established under section 10108 specific to 
t~e method of qunting authorized by the license. The following penalties apply to a 
violation of this subsection: 
A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine 
of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged; and 
B. A person who violates paragraph A 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. 
Amend the bill by adding after section 7 the following: 
'Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §12201, sub-§1-B, 1A, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 538, §30, is 
amended to read: 
A. "Adult Junior trapper supervisor" means: 
(1) The parent or guardian of the junior trapper; or 
(2) A person 18 years of age or older who: 
(a) Is approved by the parent or guardian of the junior trapper; and 
(b) 
Holds or has held a valid Maine trapping license or meets the 
requirements of subsection 3. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROFS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" It• to H.P. 1369, L.D. 1921 
Sec. 9. 12 MRSA §12201, sub-§5-A is enacted to read: 
5-A. 
Junior trapping license requirements. 
A trapper 16 years of age who 
obtained a junior trap2ing license before that person reached 16 years of age may not trap 
with that license unless the person is in the presence of and under the effective control of 
a junior trapper supervisor at all times while trapping or the person has successfully 
completed a trapper education course established under section 10108; subsection 7. The 
following penalties apply to a violation of this subsection: 
A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine 
of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged: and 
B. A person who violates paragraph A 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, 
Sec, 10. 12 MRSA §12201, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2013, c. 538, §32, is 
further amended to read: 
7. Supervision of junior trappers. The following provisions must be observed, 
A. A person under 10 years of age may not trap unless that person is accompanied at 
all times while trapping by an adult a junior trapper supervisor. A person under 10 
years of age may not trap bear. 
B, A person over 10 years of age and under 16 years of age may not trap unless that 
person: 
(1) Holds a junior trapping license; and 
(2) Is in the presence of and under the effective control of an adult a junior 
trapper supervisor at all times while trapping, unless the holder of the junior 
trapping license submits proof of having successfully completed a trapper 
education course of the type described in section 10108, subsection 7. 
Sec. 11. 12 MRSA §12201, sub-§9, as repealed and replaced by PL 2013, c, 538, 
§33, is amended to read: 
9. Penalties for supervisors of junior trappers. A person who is the aeu-1t junior 
trapper supervisor of a holder of a valid junior trapping license when that junior trapper 
violates any provision of this Part pertaining to trapping: 
A. Commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than 
$500 may be adjudged; and 
B. After having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations 
under this Part within the previous 5-year pedod, commits a Class E crime. 
Sec. 12. 12 MRSA §12204, sub-§1, 18, as amended by PL 2015, c. 301, §30, is 
further amended to read: 
B. "Adult Apprentice trapper supervisor" means a person who is 18 years of age or 
older and has held a valid adult trapping license under this subchapter for the prior 3 
consecutive years. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
,;, OF~. 
J{ ' 
-' s 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H,P, 1369, L.D, 1921 
Sec. 13. 12 MRSA §12204, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2013, c. 538, §34, is 
further amended to read: 
2. 
Adult Apprentice trapper supervisor required. A holder of an apprentice 
trapper license may not trap other than in the presence of an a4alt apprentice trapper 
supervisor. 
Sec. 14. 12 MRSA §12204, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2013, c. 538, §34, is 
further amended to read: 
3. 
Adult Apprentice trapper supervisor responsibility. 
An a4alt apprentice 
trapper supervisor shall ensure that the holder of an apprentice trapper license follows 
safe and ethical trapping protocol and adheres to the laws under this Part. An affi:llt 
apprentice trapper supervisor may not intentionally permit a person trapping under an 
apprentice trapper license with that a4alt apprentice trapper supervisor to violate 
subsection 2.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment changes the term that refers to the person who supervises a junior 
trapper from "adult trapper supervisor" to "junior trapper supervisor." The amendment 
clarifies that a person 16 years of age who obtained a junior trapping license before that 
person reached 16 years of age must either successfully complete a trapper education 
course prior to trapping or be supervised by a junior trapper supervisor while trapping 
after the person turns 16 years of age. 
Additionally, the amendment changes a statutory reference to the hunter safety course 
a junior hunter is required to complete if not supervised by a junior hunter supervisor. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 02/27/20 feac 
LD 1921 
LR3048(02) 
An Act To Clarify and Enhance Maine's Fish and Wildlife Laws 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment fi,(f) ... 7J.J J 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as a result of changes to the laws regarding 
public notice requirements for emergency rulemaking, the definition of a supervisor of a junior or apprentice hunter or 
trapper and to pem1its required to possess wildlife in captivity are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within 
existing budgeted resources. 
LR3048(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1