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An Act Regarding the Termination of the Authority To Issue a Permit for a Noise Suppression Device on a Firearm for Hunting
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11161, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 262, §1, is amended to read:
 
2. Permit.   In accordance with this subsection, the commissioner may issue a permit to a person allowing that person to use a noise suppression device with a firearm when hunting any wild animals or wild birds the person is licensed to hunt under this chapter and for which use of the firearm is allowed or for the purpose of killing a wild animal or wild turkey under section 12401 or 12402.
 
A. A person applying for a permit:
 
(1) Shall show proof of lawful possession of the noise suppression device; and
 
(2) May not have had a hunting license revoked as a result of a serious hunting violation.
 
B. A permit is valid until August 1, 2018, unless revoked under this section.
 
The commissioner may not issue a permit under this section after July 31, 2018.
 
SUMMARY
This bill is reported out by the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife pursuant to Joint Order 2017, H.P. 1250. The bill removes the provision of law that makes a permit issued by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to use a noise suppression device with a firearm when hunting valid only until August 1, 2018. The bill also removes the provision of law that prohibits the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife from issuing a permit allowing a person to use a noise suppression device with a firearm when hunting after July 31, 2018.
The committee has not taken a position on the substance of this bill. By reporting this bill out, the committee is not suggesting and does not intend to suggest that it agrees or disagrees with any aspect of this bill. The committee is reporting the bill out for the sole purpose of having a bill printed that can be referred to the committee for an appropriate public hearing and subsequent processing in the normal course. The committee is taking this action to ensure clarity and transparency in the legislative review of the proposals contained in the bill.