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An Act To Improve Moose Hunting
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  this legislation must take effect before the 2017 moose lottery permit deadline; 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 §11154, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2011, c. 370, §5, is further amended to read:
 
5. Eligibility.   Except as provided in this subsection, a resident, nonresident or alien who is eligible to obtain a Maine hunting license or who will be eligible to obtain a Maine hunting license by the opening day of the open moose season is eligible to apply for a moose hunting permit. Beginning in 2011, a person who has obtained a moose hunting permit is ineligible to obtain another permit until 3 years have elapsed after the issuance of the last permit. This limitation does not apply to subpermittees under subsection 7. A person under 10 years of age on the opening day of the open moose season is eligible to apply for a moose hunting permit and may accrue points under subsection 8 but is ineligible to receive a moose hunting permit.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §11154, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2011, c. 370, §7, is further amended to read:
 
7. Subpermittees.   An applicant for a moose permit may indicate on the application filed pursuant to subsection 6 the name of a subpermittee-designate and the name of an alternate subpermittee-designate. A person under 10 years of age on the opening day of the open moose season may not be a subpermittee-designate or alternate subpermittee-designate. If the applicant is issued a moose permit under subsection 9 and upon application to the commissioner, the permittee may change that person's subpermittee-designate or alternate subpermittee-designate until 30 days prior to the start of the moose hunting season for which the permit was issued. Thirty days prior to the start of the applicable moose hunting season, the subpermittee-designate becomes a subpermittee. The permittee may authorize the subpermittee to participate in the moose hunt with the permittee. The permittee may authorize the alternate subpermittee-designate to participate in the hunt in place of the subpermittee-designate if the permittee notifies the department of the authorization at least 5 business days prior to the first day of the moose season, in which case the alternate subpermittee-designate becomes the subpermittee. The permittee may choose not to authorize a subpermittee to participate in the hunt.
 
A. A person may not sell a subpermittee or an alternate subpermittee designation.
 
B. A person who violates paragraph A commits a Class E crime.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 128th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.