SECTION 1. Section 20-7-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-7 entitled "LOBSTERS AND OTHER CRUSTACEANS" is hereby amended to read as follows:

20-7-14. Mutilation of uncooked lobsters. -- (a) No person shall mutilate any uncooked lobster by severing its tail from its body or have in his or her possession any part or parts of any uncooked lobster so mutilated. In any and all prosecutions under this section the possession of any part or parts of any uncooked lobster so mutilated shall be prima facie evidence sufficient to convict.

{ADD The director of environmental management is authorized to promulgate regulations which exempt land based processing facilities from the provisions of this chapter. Said regulations shall prescribe the procedures to apply for the subject exemption permit and the standards to be employed by the director in his/her consideration of said application. Said regulations shall prescribe rules governing the conduct and operation of the facility and may include restrictions on product forms, sizes, possession requirements, and other provisions in order to maintain the protection of the lobster resource, and enforcement of the provision of this chapter. ADD}

(b) Lobster meat. Any fishing vessel operating in Rhode Island territorial waters shall not have on board at any time more than one pound (1 lb.) of cooked or uncooked lobster meat for each person on board that vessel. Any violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), and imprisonment for not less than thirty (30) days, or both.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.