PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
Amend the bill by adding before section 1 the following:
‘Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10952, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 301, §7, is further amended to read:
 
1. Hunting with a bow and arrow or a crossbow.   A person may, except as otherwise provided in this Part, hunt any wild bird or wild animal with a hand-held bow and arrow during any open season on that bird or animal if the person holds a valid archery hunting license and may, except as otherwise provided in this Part, hunt any wild bird or wild animal with a crossbow during any open season on that bird or animal if the person holds a valid archery license or any hunting license that is not a junior hunting license or an apprenticeship hunter license and a valid crossbow hunting licensepermit.’
Amend the bill in section 1 in paragraph E in the 6th line (page 1, line 18 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "open archery" and inserting the following: 'open archeryarchery-only hunting'
Amend the bill in section 2 in subsection 1-C in the 2nd line (page 1, line 28 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "sections" the following: '11105,'
Amend the bill by adding after section 2 the following:
‘Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §11162, sub-§1, as reallocated by RR 2015, c. 1, §8, is amended to read:
 
1. Hunting or archery license.   A resident or nonresident 16 years of age or older who has satisfied the requirements of subsection 33-A or who is exempt under subsection 4 and who holds a valid hunting or archery hunting license or an apprenticeship hunter license or archery hunting license may obtain a crossbow permit to hunt with a crossbow from the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized agent.
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §11162, sub-§3, as reallocated by RR 2015, c. 1, §8, is repealed.
Sec. 5.  12 MRSA §11162, sub-§3-A  is enacted to read:
 
3-A.  Crossbow hunter education requirements.     Except as provided in subsection 3-B, a person, other than a person holding a junior hunting license or an apprenticeship hunter license, who applies for a crossbow permit must submit:
 
A.  Satisfactory evidence of the following:
 
(1) Successful completion of an archery hunting education program or other hunter safety course under section 10108;
 
(2) Successful completion of a crossbow hunting education program under section 10108 or equivalent archery hunting education program as determined by the commissioner; or
 
(3) Having previously held a valid adult archery hunting license or any valid hunting license that is not a junior hunting license or an apprenticeship hunter license and a valid crossbow permit issued specifically for the purpose of hunting with a crossbow or bow and arrow in this State or any other state, province or country in any year after 1979.
 
When proof or evidence cannot be otherwise provided, the applicant may substitute a signed affidavit that the applicant has previously held the required completed archery hunting education program or hunter safety course and crossbow hunting education program or has previously held a valid archery hunting license or any valid hunting license that is not a junior hunting license or an apprenticeship hunter license and a valid crossbow permit in accordance with this section.
Sec. 6.  12 MRSA §11162, sub-§3-B  is enacted to read:
 
3-B.  Requirements exemption.     A person who is an enrolled member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or the Aroostook Band of Micmacs who presents certification from the respective reservation governor or the Aroostook Micmac Council stating that the person is an enrolled member of a federally recognized nation, band or tribe listed in this subsection is exempt from the requirements of subsection 3-A.
Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §11162, sub-§4, as reallocated by RR 2015, c. 1, §8, is amended to read:
 
4. Crossbow hunter education course exemption for members of armed forces domiciled in State.   A member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty who is permanently stationed outside of the United States and home on leave is exempt from crossbow hunter education course requirements under subsection 33-A if that member shows proof at the time of application for the license that that member's home state of record, as recorded in that person's military service records, is Maine. A person who no longer meets the requirements of this subsection must satisfy the conditions for exemption under subsection 33-A.’
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment clarifies the bill to state that hunting an antlerless deer with a crossbow may occur with the requisite permit only during the archery-only hunting season on deer. The amendment also adds that a person 65 years of age or older must complete a hunter safety course or show satisfactory evidence of having previously held a license to hunt with firearms in this or another state in order to apply for a permit to take an antlerless deer with a crossbow.
Additionally, the amendment makes a technical correction by replacing "crossbow hunting license" with "crossbow permit."
The amendment also creates new requirements for crossbow hunter education. The amendment requires that an applicant for a permit to hunt with a crossbow must provide evidence of completion of an archery hunting education program or a hunter safety course, in addition to evidence of a crossbow hunting education program or an equivalent as determined by the commissioner.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)