An Act To Clarify and Correct Maine's Fish and Wildlife Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1717
Committee Amendment CA_A_H492 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §10001, 12 MRSA §12602, 12 MRSA §12661

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. fl" to H.P. 1228, L.D. 1717, Bill, "An Act To 
Clarify and Correct Maine's Fish and Wildlife Laws" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 (page 1, lines 2 to 12 in L.D.) and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10001, sub-§§11-A and 28-A are enacted to read: 
11-A. Crossbow. "Crossbow" means a device for propelling an arrow or bolt by 
means of traverse limbs and a string, mounted on a stock and having a working 
mechanical trigger safety device and a minimum draw weight of 100 pounds. 
28-A. Hand-held bow or bow. "Hand-held bow" or "bow" means a device for 
propelling an arrow by means of limbs and a string that is hand held, hand drawn and 
held in a drawn position by hand or a hand-held mechanical release. "Hand-held bow" or 
"bow" includes a compound bow, a recurve bow and a long bow.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 4. 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 8 and 9 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §12602, last 1, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read: 
A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime. The court shall also 
impose a fine of $20 for each fish unlawfully possessed, none of which may be 
suspended, except that, in the case of smelt limits, the court shall impose a fine of $20 for 
each quart over the limit, none of which may be suspended. 
Sec. 9. 12 MRSA §12661, sub-§1, 1A, as amended by PL 2015, c. 301, §39, is 
further amended to read: 
A. Must remove or cause to be removed the shack or structure on the ice of any 
inland waters prior to the earlier of the date of iee oot or 3 days after the elose of the 
iee fish-ine: season established ffil:rsuant to seetion 12454: or~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEEAMENDMENT'A "toH.P.1228,L.D.1717 
(1) In any area of the State in which there is a closed ice fishing season. by ice 
out or 3 days after the close of the ice fishing season established by the 
commissioner by rule pursuant to section 12454, whichever is earlier; and 
(2) In any area of the State in which there is no close of the ice fishing season 
pursuant to section 12454, by ice out or March 31st, whichever is earlier; or' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment: 
1. Removes the provisions of the bill relating to airbows; 
2. Clarifies the penalties for violating the smelt fishing limits; and 
3. Modifies the provision relating to the removal of ice fishing shacks to provide 
that: 
A. In those portions of the State where the ice fishing season has a closed season, the 
current law applies, which requires removal before ice out or 3 days after the close of 
the season, whichever is earlier; and 
B. In those portions of the State where there is no closed season, removal must be by 
ice out or March 31st, whichever is earlier. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/30/19 ?Wac. 
LD 1717 
LR2354(02) 
An Act To Clarify and Correct Maine's Fish and Wildlife Laws 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment/+ { j/ ... S/9J) 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
The additional workload associated with the minimal number of new cases filed in the court system does not require 
additional funding at this time. 
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 technical and grammatical 
updates to the laws regarding the use of crossbows, the prohibition on hunting from vehicles or watercraft, the 
prohibition on carrying firearms while hunting, the trapping of beaver, smelt fishing violations and the timing of the 
removal of ice fishing shacks are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2354(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1