Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Promote Jobs and Economic Development through Ecotourism
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0946
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: FAIRCLOTH, BRYANT, DUNLAP

Legislative Document 
No. 946 
H.P.703 
House of Representatives, February 25, 2003 
Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Promote Jobs and 
Economic Development through Ecotourism 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative FAIRCLOTH of Bangor . 
Cosponsored by Senator BRYANT of Oxford and 
Representative: DUNLAP of Old Town. 
Printed on recycled paper 
17/~ 
117· 7I/ac~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Emergency preamble. 
Whereas, Acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, states such as 
Texas 
and Missouri 
have brought 
millions of dollars into their economies through environmental 
tourism that includes sites catering to nongame enthusiasts such 
as birders; and 
Whereas, the Federal Government has granted money to the 
states, including Maine, to promote such tourism; and 
Whereas, 
Maine 
has 
particularly attractive to 
tourism; and 
a 
superior 
environmental 
natural 
environment 
tourists and excursion 
Whereas, environmental tourists have been shown in repeated 
studies to have more disposable income than the average citizen; 
and 
Whereas, 
environmental 
features 
can 
be 
particularly 
important factors in business recruitment and attraction; and 
Whereas, this resolve establishes the Commission to Promote 
Jobs and Economic Development through Ecotourism; and 
Whereas, this resolve is necessary as 
to afford adequate 
time 
for 
the 
issues 
addressed by the commission; and 
an emergency measure 
to 
be 
appropriately 
Whereas, 
the study must 
be initiated before the 
90-day 
period expires in order that the study may be completed and a 
report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative 
session; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency wi thin the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: 
That the Commission 
to 
Promote 
Jobs 
and 
Economic 
Development 
through Ecotourism, 
referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; 
and be it further 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: 
That the commission 
consists of 20 members appointed as follows: 
1. 
Three members of the Senate, appointed by the President 
Page l-LR0604(1) 
• 
• 
• 
of the Senate, one of whom serves on the Joint Standing Committee 
on Natural Resources, one of whom serves on the Joint Standing 
Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and one of whom serves 
on 
the 
Joint 
Standing 
Committee 
on 
Business, 
Research 
and 
Economic Development; 
2. 
Three members of the House of Representatives, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House, 
one of whom serves on the Joint 
Standing Committee on Natural Resources, one of whom serves on 
the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and 
one of whom serves on the Joint Standing Committee on Business, 
Research and Economic Development; 
3. 
Four members, 
one member representing each of the 4 
chambers of commerce representing the 4 largest urban areas in 
the State; 2 of the members are appointed by the President of the 
Senate and 2 of the members are appointed by the Speaker of the 
House; 
4. 
One 
member 
representing 
the 
Maine 
Audubon 
Society, 
appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
5. 
One member representing the Natural Resources Council of 
Maine, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
6. 
Four members appointed by the Governor as follows: 
A. 
One member representing the Maine League of Conservation 
Voters; 
B. 
One member representing the Maine Professional Guides 
Association; 
C. 
One member representing the Maine Tourism Council; and 
D. 
One 
member 
representing 
the 
University 
of 
Maine 
Department of Economics; 
7. 
The 
Commissioner 
of 
Environmental 
Protection, 
or 
a 
designee; 
8. 
The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, or a 
designee; 
9. 
The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, 
or a designee; and 
10. 
The Commissioner of Conservation, or a designee. 
The 
commission shall 
invite the Unites 
States Fish 
and 
Wildlife 
Service 
to 
designate 
a 
representative 
who 
is 
familiar with ecotourism policy throughout the country to 
participate as a member of the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: 
That the first-named Senate member 
is the Senate chair of the commission and the first-named House 
of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; 
and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: 
That 
all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the 
effective date of this resolve. 
The appointing authorities shall 
notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all 
appointments 
have 
been 
completed. 
Within 
days 
after 
appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the 
first meeting of the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the commission shall examine 
ways to seek out and promote economic development through the 
protection, designation and promotion to tourists of wild natural 
areas. 
In conducting its study, the commission shall: 
1. 
Monitor 
locations 
that 
are 
recognized 
for 
their 
ecotourism value and strategize about the potential for increased 
ecotourism; 
2. 
Seek out additional locations within the State that hold 
potential for significant ecotourism value; 
3. 
Create 
a 
promotion plan designed to appeal 
to both 
tourists and those 
seeking to recruit and retain high-income 
businesses and attract professionals and a high-income workforce; 
and 
4. 
Propose construction of wetland boardwalks, bird blinds, 
wildlife and birding festivals, 
highway signs and promotional 
materials designed in a way to enhance rather than harm the site 
that is promoted; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That, upon 
Legislative Council, 
the Office of Policy and 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the 
be it further 
approval of the 
Legal Analysis 
commission; and 
Sec. 7. Funding. Resolved: 
That the commission may seek and 
accept other sources of funds to advance its work. 
Notice of 
solicitation 
and 
acceptance 
of 
funds 
must 
be 
sent 
to 
the 
Legislative Council. 
All funds accepted must be forwarded to the 
Executive 
Director of 
the Legislative Council 
along with 
an 
• 
accounting record that includes the amount of funds, the date the 
funds were received, from whom the funds were received and the 
purpose 
and 
any 
limitation 
on 
the 
use 
of 
the 
funds. 
The 
Executive Director of the Legislative Council administers any 
funds received; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the legislative members 
of the commission are entitled to the legislative per diem, as 
def ined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and 
reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses related to 
their 
attendance 
at 
authorized 
meetings 
of 
the 
commission. 
Public members not otherwise compensated by their employers or 
other entities 
that 
they 
represent 
are 
entitled to 
receive 
reimbursement of necessary expenses and, upon a demonstration of 
financial hardship, a per diem equal to the legislative per diem 
for their attendance at authorized meetings of the commission; 
and be it further 
Sec. 9. Report. Resolved: 
That, 
no later than December 3, 
2003, 
the commission shall submit a report that includes its 
findings 
and 
recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, 
for presentation to the 
Legislature. 
The commission is authorized to submit legislation 
related to its report for introduction to the Second Regular 
Session at the time of submission of its report; and be it further 
Sec. 10. Extension. Resolved: 
That, if the commission requires 
a limited extension of time to complete its study and make its 
report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant 
an extension; and be it further 
Sec. 11. Commission budget. Resolved: 
That the chairs of the 
commission, 
with assistance 
from 
the 
commission staff, 
shall 
administer the commission's budget. 
Within 10 days after its 
first meeting, 
the commission shall present a 
work plan and 
proposed budget to the Legislative Council for its approval. 
The 
commission 
may 
not 
incur expenses 
that would 
result in the 
commission's exceeding its approved budget. 
Upon request from the commission, the Executive Director of 
the Legislative Council, or the executive director's designee, 
shall promptly provide the commission chairs and staff with a 
status report on the commission budget, expenditures incurred and 
paid and available funds. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Commission to Promote Jobs and 
Economic Development through Ecotourism.