An Act to Exempt Certam Boat Operators from Havmg td Become Mame Gmdes
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1319
Committee Amendment CA_A_S215 (Senate)
Amends: 12 MRSA §12853

COMl\1ITTEE AMENDMENT" ii" to SP 538, L D 1319, "An Act to Exempt 
Certam Boat Operators from Havmg td Become Mame Gmdes" 
Amend the bill by stnlang out all of sect10n 1 and msertmg the followmg 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §12853, sub-§7, ~ 
1s enacted to read 
D A person who has sat1sfactonly completed a boater safety education course under 
section 13 063 and 1s certified m frrst aid under subsection 4, paragraph C may, without 
a gmde license, operate a watercraft m the course of employment with a seasonal 
busmess engaged m recreational tow-sport act1v1t1es 1f that seasonal busmess was 
engaged m recreat10nal tow-sport activities durmg the 2022 season This paragraph 1s 
repealed January 15, 2024 
Sec. 2. Review. The Department of Inland F1shenes and Wildlife shall establish a 
stakeholder group to examme the gmde requrrements for recreational sports 
Sec. 3. Stakeholder group. The Department of Inland F1shenes and Wildlife shall 
ensure that the stakeholder group established under section 2 1s as broadly representative 
of mterested parties and groups as possible and shall mv1te part1c1pat10n from at least the 
followmg the Mame Profess10nal Gmdes Association, the Mame Marme Trades 
Association and governmental and nongovernmental organizations related to recreational 
tow sports m this State 
Sec. 4. Report. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall report the 
fmdmgs and recommendations of the stakeholder group established under sect10n 2 to the 
Jomt Standmg Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife no later than January 15, 2024 
The committee may report out a bill related to recreational gmde reqmrements to the 
Amend the bill by relettermg or renumbermg any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~os 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" /J "to SP 538, L D 1319 ( 5-Z.f D 
SUMMARY 
This amendment allows a person to operate a watercraft ID the course of employment 
with a seasonal busIDess engaged ID recreational tow-sport activities if that seasonal 
busmess was engaged ID recreat10nal tow-sport activities durIDg the 2022 season The 
amendment also drrects the Department of Inland Fishenes and Wildlife to establish a 
stakeholder group to examIDe the gmde requrrements for recreat10nal sports The 
amendment also drrects the department to report to the JoIDt StandIDg Committee on Inland 
Fishenes and Wildlife by January 15, 2024 and authonzes the committee to report out a 
bill to the Second Regular Sess10n of the 131st Legislature 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved 05/27/23 feae 
LD 1319 
LR 896(02) 
An Act to Exempt Certain Boat Operators from Having to Become Maine Guides 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'if ls, 2, I ~ 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and WIidlife 
) J 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Mmor cost mcrease - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any addit10nal costs to the Department oflnland Fishenes and Wildlife to implement the provis10ns of this bill are 
expected to be mmor and can be absorbed withm existmg budgeted resources 
LR0896(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1