An Act To Allow Municipalities To Stock Ponds in Their Areas with Fish
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1579
Committee Amendment CA_A_H375 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §12510

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A" to H.P. 1141, L.D. 1579, Bill, "An Act To 
Allow Municipalities To Stock Ponds in Their Areas with Fish" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Create a Limited Fish Stocking Permit' 
Amend the bill by strildng out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12510, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3. Limited permit. The commissioner may issue a written limited pe1mit to a local 
government under this subsection. A limited permit: 
A. Allows the local government to introduce fish only into a great pond that: 
(1) Is within the jurisdiction of the local government; and 
(2) 
Was previously stocked by the department and in which stocking was 
suspended prior to January 1, 2019 and has not been resumed by the department 
due to inadequate public access; 
B. Allows the introduction of only: 
(1) 
The same species of fish that was stocked at the time the department 
suspended stocking; and 
(2) Fish obtained by the local government at its own expense from an in-state 
commercial facility that meets testing and health guidelines approved by the 
department; and 
C. May be issued only if the local government identifies public access to the great 
pond that: 
(1) Is at least suitable for the hand carrying of boats to the water; 
(2) Includes a parldng area; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEEAMENDMENTfr'toH.P. 1141,L.D.1579 
(3) Has been marked with signage adequate to ensure public awareness of the 
public access. 
For purposes of this subsection, "local government" means a municipality or. in the 
unorganized territory, a county.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment allows the Commissioner of 
Inland Fishedes and Wildlife to issue a limited permit to a local government. A limited 
permit allows a local government to introduce fish only into a great pond within the 
jurisdiction of the local government that was previously stocked by the department and in 
which stocking was suspended prior to January 1, 2019 and has not been resumed by the 
department due to inadequate public access. The permit allows the introduction of only 
the same species of fish that was stocked at the time the department suspended stocking. 
The permit allows only the introduction of fish obtained by the local government at its 
own expense from an in-state commercial facility that meets testing and health guidelines 
approved by the department. The permit may be issued only if the local government 
identifies public access to the great pond that is at least suitable for the hand carrying of 
boats to the water, includes a parking area and has been marked with signage adequate to 
ensure public awareness of the public access. 
"Local government" is defined as a 
municipality or, in the unorganized territory, a county. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
. (See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/24/19 feac 
LD 1579 
LR2433(02) 
An Act To Allow Municipalities To Stock Ponds in Their Areas with Fish 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ~· { f/-375) 
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 to issue a limited fish stocking permit to a 
local government that will allow them to introduce fish into a great pond within their jurisdiction providing specific 
requirements have been met are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2433(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1