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An Act To Continue To Permit Persons 70 Years of Age and Older To Hunt with a Crossbow
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  this legislation must take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period in order to ensure minimal disruption to hunters and the hunting season; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §10953, sub-§1-C  is enacted to read:
 
1-C.  Hunting with a crossbow; 70 years of age or older.     A person 70 years of age or older may hunt a wild bird or a wild animal with a crossbow during any open season on that wild bird or wild animal, subject to this Part. A person 70 years of age or older may hunt deer with a crossbow during a regular archery-only season established under section 11403 or in an expanded archery zone or during the muzzle-loading-only deer hunting season established under section 11404.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows a person 70 years of age or older to hunt with a crossbow during any open season. Until January 1, 2015, a provision of law allowed this, but included language that repealed the provision on that date. The bill enacts the substance of that provision but without the repeal language.