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An Act To Exempt from Hunter Safety Courses Certain Veterans and Persons Who Have Completed Firearms Safety Courses
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §11105, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2013, c. 538, §17, is further amended to read:
 
1. Hunter safety course requirements.   Except as provided in subsectionsubsections 2 to 4, a person who applies for a Maine license to hunt with firearms other than a junior license or an apprentice hunter license issued under section 11108-B must submit proof of having successfully completed a hunter safety course as provided in section 10108 or an equivalent hunter safety course or satisfactory evidence of having previously held a valid adult license to hunt with firearms in this State or any other state, province or country in any year beginning with 1976.
 
When proof of competency can not otherwise be provided, the applicant may substitute a signed affidavit that the applicant has previously held the required adult hunting license or that the applicant has successfully completed the required hunter safety course.
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §11105, sub-§§3 and 4  are enacted to read:
 
3.  Hunter safety course exemption for certain veterans.     A veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States is exempt from hunter safety course requirements under subsection 1 if that veteran provides at the time of application for a Maine license to hunt that veteran’s Armed Forces Report of Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214, or its predecessor or successor forms, or certification from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the appropriate branch of the Armed Forces of the United States verifying the applicant’s military service and honorable discharge.
 
4.  Hunter safety course exemption for persons who have completed firearms safety courses.     A person is exempt from hunter safety course requirements under subsection 1 if that person provides at the time of application for a Maine license to hunt proof of having successfully completed a firearms safety course other than a program for training individuals in the safe handling of firearms pursuant to section 10108, subsection 1.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides that a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States is exempt from hunter safety course requirements if that veteran provides at the time of application for a Maine license to hunt with firearms that veteran’s Armed Forces Report of Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214, or its predecessor or successor forms, or certification from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the appropriate branch of the Armed Forces of the United States verifying the applicant’s military service and honorable discharge.
It also provides that a person is exempt from hunter safety course requirements if that person provides at the time of application for a Maine license to hunt proof of having successfully completed a firearms safety course other than a program for training individuals in the safe handling of firearms pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 10108, subsection 1.