An Act To Amend the Forester Law
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1455
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: McKEE, TREAT
Amends: 32 MRSA §5514, 32 MRSA §5515

Legislative Document 
No. 1455 
H.P.1063 
House of Representati ves, March 27, 2003 
An Act To Amend the Forester Law 
Submitted by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation pursuant to Joint 
Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative McKEE of Wayne. 
/Jf~ 
/J7·711d£~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representati ve: RECTOR of Thomaston, Senator: TREAT of Kennebec. 
Printed on recycled pa~r 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. I. 32 MRSA §5514, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 261, 
§4, is amended to read: 
2. 
Professional qualifications. 
Each 
applicant 
for 
an 
intern forester license shall submit evidence of an associate's 
degree or a bachelor's degree from a curriculum in forestry or of 
graduation from a postgraduate curriculum in forestry leading to 
a degree higher than a bachelor's degree in a school or college 
approved by the board. 
The board may grant a variance to an 
applicant who does not hold a degree pursuant to rules adopted by 
the board. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are 
FRa~eF 
saesEaREive 
routine 
technical 
rules 
as 
defined 
in Title 
5, 
chapter 375, subchapter ±±-A 2-A. 
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §5514, sub-§3, ,C, as enacted by PL 200L c. 
261, §4, is amended to read: 
C. 
The applicant shall submit 3 references from persons aeE 
FeJ:aEea--t.~-t-be--applieaaE demonstrating the applicant's good 
character to work as an intern forester. 
One of the ERese 
references must be from the individual who is proposed to 
serve as the sponsor. 
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §5514, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 21001, c. 26L 
§4, is amended to read: 
5. 
Renewal. 
Licenses expire annually on December 31st or 
on a date the commissioner determines. 
The board shall issue a 
renewal 
license, 
subject 
to 
the 
limitations 
set 
forth 
in 
subsection 6, upon receipt of the written request for renewaL 
the 
annual 
fee 
and 
evidence 
of 
satisfactory 
completion 
of 
continuing education as set forth in subsection 4. 
Licenses may 
be 
renewed up to 90 
days after the date of expiration upon 
payment of a late fee in addition to the renewal fee. 
A person 
who submits an application for renewal more than 90 days after 
the license has expired is saejee~-~~~l~--~~~&&&-~eveFaia~ 
ReW-~~~€~~-~--~~&-eRapEeF reguired to pay a late renewal 
penalty fee in addition to the 90-day late fee and renewal fee. 
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §5515, sub-§8, as enac ted by PL 2 () 0 1, c. 26 L 
§4, is amended to read: 
8. 
Renewal. 
Licenses expire annually on December 31st or 
on a date the commissioner determines. 
The board shall issue a 
renewal license upon receipt of the written request for renewal, 
the 
annual 
fee 
and 
evidence 
of 
satisfactory 
completion 
of 
continuing education as set forth in subsection 7. 
Licenses may 
be renewed up to 90 days after expiration upon payment of a late 
Page l-LR1927(1) 
fee in addition to the renewal fee. 
A person who submits an 
application for 
renewal more 
than 
days after the license 
expiration date is subject to all requirements governing new 
applicants under this chapter. except that the board may. in its 
discretion and giving due consideration to the protection of the 
public. 
waive 
examination 
and 
internship 
if 
the 
renewal 
application is within 2 years from the date of expiration for 
those applicants who demonstrate compliance with subsection 7 and 
upon payment of a late renewal penalty fee in addition to the 
90-day late fee and renewal fee. 
Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §5515, sub-§10, 1JB, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 
261, §4, is amended to read:. 
B. 
Must register with the board to supervise the activities 
of an unlicensed person pursuant to rules adopted by the 
board. 
Rules 
adopted 
pursuant 
to 
this 
saBst;aat;ive routine technical rules 
chapter 375, subchapter ±±-A 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
paragraph 
are 
Hla~e!' 
as defined in Title 5, 
This bill amends the forester licensing law to clarify the 
renewal licensing procedures for intern foresters and foresters 
and the requirement for intern forester license applicants to 
provide 3 references. 
This bill makes technical changes to the 
board's rule-making authority.