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An Act To Clarify Hunting and Trapping Laws for Youth
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §11108-A, sub-§7  is enacted to read:
 
7.  Parent or guardian; junior hunters.   A person violates this subsection if that person is the adult supervisor, parent or guardian of a holder of a valid junior hunting license and that junior hunter violates any provision of this Part pertaining to hunting.
 
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.
 
B.   A person who violates this subsection 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. 2. 12 MRSA §12201, sub-§2, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
 
C.  A resident under 10 years of age may trap all legal species, except bear, without a license.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §12201, sub-§7, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
 
A.  A person under 10 years of age may not trap unless that person is accompanied at all times while trapping by a parent or guardian or by an adult at least 18 years of age approved by a parent or guardian. A person under 10 years of age may not trap bear.
Sec. 4.  12 MRSA §12201, sub-§9  is enacted to read:
 
9.  Parent or guardian; junior trappers.   A person violates this subsection if that person is the adult supervisor, parent or guardian of a holder of a valid junior trapping license and that junior trapper violates any provision of this Part pertaining to trapping.
 
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.
 
B.  A person who violates this subsection 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. 5.  12 MRSA §12612  is enacted to read:
§ 12612. Parent or guardian; violation by minor
A person violates this section if that person is the adult supervisor, parent or guardian of a minor under 16 years of age and that minor violates any provision of this Part pertaining to fishing.
 
1.  Civil violation.   A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.
 
2.  Class E crime.   A person who violates this section 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.
 
Effective September 12, 2009