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An Act To Authorize the Establishment of an Apprentice License for the Maine Scallop Fishery
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §6702, sub-§7  is enacted to read:
 
7.  Apprentice license.     The department may establish by rule an apprentice program for entry into the scallop fishery that includes an apprentice license for a resident who is 18 years of age or older to engage in dragging for scallops under the supervision of a person licensed under this section. The fee for an apprentice scallop dragging license is $250.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6706, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 237, §2, is further amended to read:
 
3. Scallop license limited entry system.   Notwithstanding subsection 2, the commissioner shall establish by rule a limited entry system under which a person who did not hold a hand fishing scallop license or a scallop dragging license in the previous calendar year may become eligible to obtain that license. The rules for a limited entry system must include provisions for the method and administration of the programsystem. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantiveroutine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §6729, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 607, Pt. A, §12, is further amended to read:
 
B. For a scallop draggers license, $100, plus an additional $250 to sponsor an apprentice pursuant to section 6702, subsection 7;
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows the Department of Marine Resources to establish by rule an apprentice program for entry into the scallop fishery that includes an apprentice license allowing an apprentice to engage in dragging for scallops under the supervision of a scallop dragging license holder. It sets the apprentice license fee at $250 and creates a $250 license surcharge for a scallop dragger to sponsor an apprentice. It limits participation to residents and makes 18 years of age the minimum age to participate as an apprentice. It also changes rules to implement the scallop license limited entry system from major substantive rules to routine technical rules.