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 striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10659, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 225, §1, is amended to read:
 
2. Penalty.   A person who violates subsection 1 commits a Class E crimea civil violation for which a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 may be adjudged.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §10902, sub-§7-C, as amended by PL 2017, c. 355, §1, is further amended to read:
 
7-C. Hunting deer over bait.   A hunting license of a person convictedadjudicated of placing or hunting over bait in violation of section 11452, subsection 1 must be revoked, and that person is ineligible to obtain a hunting license as follows:
 
A. For a first offense, for a period of one year from the date of convictionadjudication; and
 
B. For a 2nd offense, for a period of 2 years from the date of convictionadjudication.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §11452, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §171 and affected by §422, is amended to read:
 
2. Penalty.   A person who violates subsection 1 commits a Class E crimecivil violation for which a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 may be adjudged.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft. The amendment changes the penalty from a Class E crime to a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 may be adjudged for the following violations:
1. Placing salt or any other bait or food to entice deer from June 1st to the start of an open hunting season on deer and, if all open hunting seasons on deer are closed before December 15th, from the close of the last open hunting season on deer to December 15th; and
2. Hunting from an observation stand or blind overlooking salt, grain, fruit, nuts or other foods known to be attractive to deer during an open hunting season on deer.
For consistency in language, the amendment makes a technical change to the provision regarding license revocation for hunting deer over bait to clarify that the revocation commences on the date of adjudication.
Nothing in the amendment impedes the authority of the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to suspend or impose penalties for violations of laws regarding the placing of bait for the purpose of enticing deer or regarding the hunting of deer over bait.