APPROVED CHAPTER
FEBRUARY 1, 2024 495
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR
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H.P. 1325 - L.D. 2063
An Act to Clarify the Laws Governing Disclosure of Wood Processing Data
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §8884, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:
3-A. Disclosure of confidential information. Notwithstanding subsection 3,
confidential information may be disclosed pursuant to this subsection.
A. The director of the bureau may disclose information designated as confidential
under subsection 3 to the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
Northern Research Station when that entity, in the opinion of the director, requires that
information and the bureau and that entity have executed a confidentiality agreement
that protects against further disclosure of that information except in summary reports
that use aggregate data that do not reveal the activities of an individual person or firm.
B. The director of the bureau may not disclose information furnished by a state or
federal agency when that information has been designated as confidential by the
furnishing agency unless the furnishing agency authorizes the disclosure.
A recipient of information pursuant to paragraph A or B may not disclose or use the
information except as authorized by the director of the bureau, and the information remains
confidential and the property of the bureau.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §8884, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. F, §45 and
affected by Pt. X, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
4. Penalties. A person who:
A. Fails to submit a report pursuant to this section commits a civil violation for which
a fine of not more than $1,000 for each failure may be adjudged; or
B. Receives confidential information pursuant to subsection 3-A and uses that
information for a purpose other than that authorized by the director of the bureau
commits a civil violation for which a fine of not more than $1,000 may be adjudged.
Page 1 - 131LR2661(03)


Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 2063, HP 1325: 12.8884
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 495: 12.8884