130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2021
Legislative Document No. 1549
H.P. 1154 House of Representatives, April 22, 2021
An Act To Establish the Maine Forest Advisory Board
Received by the Clerk of the House on April 20, 2021. Referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed
pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative O'NEIL of Saco.
Cosponsored by Representative: PLUECKER of Warren, Senators: BENNETT of Oxford,
MAXMIN of Lincoln.
Printed on recycled paper
 1 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2 Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§24-H is enacted to read:
3 24-H.
4 Environment: Maine Forest Advisory Board Expenses Only 12 MRSA
5 Natural §8006
6 Resources
74 Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §8006 is enacted to read:
8 §8006. Maine Forest Advisory Board established
9 The Maine Forest Advisory Board, as established in Title 5, section 12004-I,
10 subsection 24-H and referred to in this section as "the board," advises the bureau and
11 provides input in the development, updating and implementation of the state forest action
12 plan required under the federal Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Public Law
13 110-234 and Public Law 110-246.
14 1. Membership. The board consists of 18 members appointed as follows:
15 A. Four members who serve in an advisory, nonvoting capacity, appointed by the
16 Governor as follows:
17 (1) A representative of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife;
18 (2) A representative of the Department of Marine Resources;
19 (3) A representative of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry,
20 Bureau of Parks and Lands; and
21 (4) A representative of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry,
22 Natural Areas Program;
23 B. Six members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:
24 (1) A representative of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension;
25 (2) A representative of a statewide organization representing the forest products
26 industry;
27 (3) A representative of an organization of professional logging contractors;
28 (4) A representative of a commercial landowner that owns a large amount of
29 forested land in the State;
30 (5) A representative of a nonprofit corporation that owns a large amount of
31 forested land in the State; and
32 (6) A representative of a cooperative representing loggers in the State; and
33 C. Eight members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows:
34 (1) A representative who is a member of the joint standing committee of the
35 Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation and forestry matters,
36 who serves in an advisory, nonvoting capacity;
37 (2) A representative of a land trust with a statewide presence;
38 (3) A representative of a statewide organization dedicated to wildlife issues;
Page 1 - 130LR1010(01)
 1 (4) A wildlife biologist with expertise in forest habitat;
2 (5) An academic with expertise in forest ecology;
3 (6) A representative of a soil and water conservation district;
4 (7) A representative of a statewide labor organization; and
5 (8) A representative who is a member of a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe
6 or band in this State. The appointment of the member of a federally recognized
7 Indian nation, tribe or band in this State must be based on the joint recommendation
8 of the tribal governments of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, the Houlton Band of
9 Maliseet Indians, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk, the Passamaquoddy
10 Tribe at Sipayik and the Penobscot Nation. If the tribal governments do not make
11 a recommendation or a unanimous joint recommendation, the Speaker of the House
12 shall appoint a member of a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or band in
13 this State and rotate the appointment among members of each federally recognized
14 Indian nation, tribe or band in this State.
15 2. Terms; quorum; meetings. Members serve for a term of 3 years. At the end of a
16 term an outgoing member serves until a successor has been appointed. A member may
17 serve multiple terms. The board shall meet at least 4 times a year to conduct business and
18 to elect officers. A quorum consists of at least 10 members. The affirmative vote of a
19 majority of the members present is necessary to decide any business brought before the
20 board.
21 3. Duties of board. The board shall:
22 A. Advise the bureau on conditions and trends in the forests of the State;
23 B. Facilitate dialogue among diverse interests involving forestry matters;
24 C. Promote cooperation among state agencies involving forestry matters;
25 D. Advise the bureau on forestry policy development and implementation;
26 E. Ensure public participation in the development of forestry policy;
27 F. Provide input in the development, updating and implementation of the state forest
28 action plan required under the federal Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008,
29 Public Law 110-234 and Public Law 110-246; and
30 G. Submit reports to the Legislature on its work under this section.
31 Sec. 3. Maine Forest Advisory Board report. The Maine Forest Advisory
32 Board, as established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection
33 24-H, shall submit a report outlining conditions and trends in the State's forests to the
34 Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.
35 SUMMARY
36 This bill creates the Maine Forest Advisory Board to advise the Department of
37 Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Forestry on a variety of forestry issues
38 and to provide input on the state forest action plan required under the federal Food,
39 Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The board is directed to submit a report outlining
Page 2 - 130LR1010(01)
40
1 conditions and trends in the State's forests to the Second Regular Session of the 130th
41
2 Legislature.
Page 3 - 130LR1010(01)