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An Act To Expand Eligibility for Lobster and Crab Fishing Licenses for Veterans
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  veterans of military service have served our State and our country; and
Whereas,  veterans who held a lobster and crab fishing license prior to or during the person's military service may not be eligible for a new license because of military service obligations; and
Whereas,  those veterans should remain eligible for a lobster and crab fishing license without meeting the requirements of the apprentice program; and
Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect before the fishing season starts; 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 §6421, sub-§5, ¶C, as amended by PL 2011, c. 486, §1, is further amended to read:
 
C. Meets the requirements of the apprentice program under section 6422; or
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6421, sub-§5, ¶D, as corrected by RR 2001, c. 2, Pt. A, §15, is amended to read:
 
D. Did not possess a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license in the previous calendar year because the commissioner had suspended the person's license privileges for a length of time that included the previous calendar year.; or
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §6421, sub-§5, ¶I  is enacted to read:
 
I.  Is a veteran, as defined in 38 United States Code, Section 101(2), and:
 
(1) Began active military, naval or air service prior to November 1, 2015;
 
(2) Held a lobster and crab fishing license that was issued prior to or during the person's active military, naval or air service, which was not suspended or revoked; and
 
(3) Reported lobster or crab landings to the department during the time the person held the lobster and crab fishing license.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides that a veteran who was honorably discharged, began military service prior to November 1, 2015, previously held a lobster or crab fishing license that was not revoked or suspended and reported lobster or crab landings to the Department of Marine Resources under that license is eligible to obtain a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license.