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An Act To Allow the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife To Change the Closing Date of Fishing Seasons
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  the open-water fishing season is scheduled to begin April 1, 2017; and
Whereas,  weather conditions are still conducive to ice fishing in some areas of the State; 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 §12456, sub-§2, ¶E, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 3, §2, is amended to read:
 
E. In accordance with section 10104, the commissioner may change the established opening or closing date of an open season if, in the commissioner's opinion, the change is necessarywarranted due to earlier-than-normal seasonal temperature changes or weather conditions.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
Current law allows the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to change the date of the opening of a fishing season due to seasonal temperature changes or weather conditions.
This bill eliminates the reference to seasonal temperature changes and allows the commissioner to change both the opening and closing dates of a fishing season based on weather conditions.