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An Act To Enhance Safety on College and University Campuses by Allowing Firearms To Be Carried on the Campuses of Public Colleges and Universities
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §10009, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 170, §1, is amended to read:
 
1. Definitions.   As used in this section the following terms have the following meanings.
 
A. "College or university" means any postsecondary educational institution, including:
 
(1) Any degree-granting educational institution regulated under chapter 409;
 
(2) Any university in the University of Maine System;
 
(3) Any college in the Maine Community College System; and
 
(4) The Maine Maritime Academy.
 
B.  "Public entertainment facility" means an arena, stadium, amphitheater, auditorium, theater or similar facility with a seating capacity of at least 1,000 persons that is owned or operated by the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System, the Board of Trustees of the Maine Community College System or the Board of Trustees of the Maine Maritime Academy and that is primarily designed and used for artistic, theatrical, cultural, charitable, musical, sporting or entertainment events but does not include publicly accessible outdoor grounds or rights-of-way appurtenant to the facility, including parking lots within the facility used for the parking of motor vehicles.
 
C.  "Student dormitory or residence hall" means a building owned or operated by the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System, the Board of Trustees of the Maine Community College System or the Board of Trustees of the Maine Maritime Academy located on or within the campus area owned by the university or college to house persons residing on campus as students. "Student dormitory or residence hall" does not include off-campus housing or publicly accessible outdoor grounds or rights-of-way appurtenant to the building, including parking lots within the building used for the parking of motor vehicles.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §10009, sub-§3  is enacted to read:
 
3.  Rules.     The Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System, the Board of Trustees of the Maine Community College System and the Board of Trustees of the Maine Maritime Academy may adopt rules and establish policies relating to firearms.
 
A.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rules adopted and policies established pursuant to this subsection may not regulate or prohibit the otherwise lawful possession, carrying or transporting of firearms or ammunition by a person issued a permit to carry a concealed handgun under Title 25, chapter 252 or a person who may carry a concealed handgun under Title 25, section 2001-A, subsection 2, paragraph A-1.
 
B.  Notwithstanding paragraph A, a person issued a permit to carry a concealed handgun under Title 25, chapter 252 or a person who may carry a concealed handgun under Title 25, section 2001-A, subsection 2, paragraph A-1 may not carry a concealed weapon:
 
(1) Within a student dormitory or residence hall; or
 
(2) Within any building of a public entertainment facility, as long as signs are conspicuously posted at each point of public ingress to the facility notifying attendees of any restriction on the possession of firearms in the facility during a game or event.
 
C.  The provisions of paragraph B do not apply to the following persons:
 
(1) A person or persons complying with the provisions of Title 17-A, section 108;
 
(2) A person or an employee who is authorized to carry a firearm by the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System, the Board of Trustees of the Maine Community College System or the Board of Trustees of the Maine Maritime Academy or a person or entity with authority over the building or facility;
 
(3) A person who possesses a firearm for authorized use in an approved program, event, activity or other circumstance approved by a person or entity with authority over the building or facility;
 
(4) A person who possesses a firearm in a private motor vehicle while delivering students, employees or other persons to and from a university, college or public entertainment facility; and
 
(5) An on-duty or off-duty law enforcement officer.
 
D.  A rule or policy that is contrary to this subsection is void.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides that the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System, the Board of Trustees of the Maine Community College System and the Board of Trustees of the Maine Maritime Academy may adopt rules and establish policies relating to firearms except that these rules and policies may not regulate or prohibit the otherwise lawful possession, carrying or transporting of firearms or ammunition by a person issued a permit to carry a concealed handgun under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 25, chapter 252 or a person who may carry a concealed handgun under Title 25, section 2001-A, subsection 2, paragraph A-1. The bill also provides, with certain exceptions, that a person issued a permit to carry a concealed handgun under Title 25, chapter 252 or a person who may carry a concealed handgun under Title 25, section 2001-A, subsection 2, paragraph A-1 may not carry a concealed weapon within a student dormitory or residence hall or within a building of a public entertainment facility at which signs are conspicuously posted at entrances notifying attendees of any restriction on the possession of firearms in the facility during a game or event.