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An Act To Allow Persons To Train and Use Dogs To Hunt Coyotes
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  current law allows for coyote hunting at night beginning on December 16th of each year; and
Whereas,  this legislation allows for dogs to be used when hunting coyotes and in order for dogs to be properly trained for this action, training needs to begin before the effective date of nonemergency legislation; 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 §12001, sub-§4  is enacted to read:
 
4.  Hunting coyotes with dogs.     A person may use a dog to hunt or may be accompanied by a dog while hunting coyotes under this section.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §12051, sub-§1, ¶A, as repealed and replaced by PL 2013, c. 588, Pt. A, §16, is amended to read:
 
A. A person may train dogs on coyotes, foxes, snowshoe hare and raccoons from July 1st through the following March 31st, including Sundays.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §12051, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 253, §22, is further amended to read:
 
3. Possessing firearm while training dogs.   A person may not possess a firearm while training a dog outside of the open training season on coyotes, foxes, snowshoe hare and raccoons as set out in subsection 1.
 
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.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows a person to train and use dogs to hunt coyotes.