An Act To Establish a Food Policy for Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 2107
Senate Amendment SA_A_S626 (Senate)

SENATE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 1497, L.D. 2107, Bill, "An Act 
To Establish a Food Policy for Maine" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1. 
Further amend the bill in section 4 by striking out all of 
§2l6. 
Further 
amend the bill in section 
by 
renumbering the 
sections to read consecutively. 
Further amend the bill by striking out all of section 6 and 
inserting in its place the following: 
'Sec. 6. Maine Food Policy Council established. The Maine Food 
Policy Council, referred to in this section as "the council," is 
established. Membership and duties of the council are as provided 
in this section. 
1. Members. The council consists of 15 members appointed as 
follows: 
A. 
Two 
members 
of 
the 
joint standing committee 
Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural 
one 
appointed 
by 
the 
President of 
the 
Senate 
appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
of 
the 
matters, 
and 
one 
B. 
One 
member 
of 
the 
joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over matters pertaining to 
marine fisheries appointed by the President of the Senate; 
Page l-LR3147(3) 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
SENATE AMENDMENT .. A .. to H.P. 1497, L.D. 2107 
C. 
One 
member 
of 
the 
joint standing committee of 
the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over matters of health and 
nutrition appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
D. 
One 
agencies 
agency: 
representative 
of 
each 
of 
the 
appointed by the commissioner or 
following 
state 
director of the 
(1 ) 
The 
Department of Agriculture, 
Food 
and Rural 
Resources; 
(2) 
The Department of Marine Resources; 
(3) 
The Department of Health and Human Services; and 
(4) 
The Executive Department, State Planning Office; 
E. Three members representing consumers, including at least 
one 
representing 
an 
organization 
that 
provides 
food 
assistance and one receiving food assistance, appointed by 
the Governor; 
F. Three members representing the food industry, 
producers, distributors, processors or retailers, 
by the Governor; and 
including 
appointed 
G. 
One representative of the University of Maine System who 
is 
from 
the 
Cooperative Extension or the 
University of 
Maine, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition or who 
is a director of dining services within the University of 
Maine System, appointed by the Chancellor of the University 
of Maine System. 
2. 
Legislative members. 
No more than 
Legislators with 
the same party affiliation may be appointed on the council. 
3. 
Chair. The first-named Senate member is the Senate chair 
and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House 
chair. 
4. 
Appointments; 
convening of council. 
All appointments 
must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date 
of 
this 
Act. 
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 council. 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
SENATE AMENDMENT "4,, to H. P. 1497, L. D. 2107 
5. Meetings and attendance. 
times. 
The council may meet up to 4 
6. Quorum; actions. A quorum is a majority of the members of 
the council. An affirmative vote of the majority of the members 
present at a meeting is required for any action. 
7. 
Duties. 
The council shall develop: 
A. 
A food policy for the State that recognizes that it is 
in the best interest of the State to ensure the availability 
of an adequate supply of safe, wholesome and nutritious food 
to its citizens; and 
B. 
A strategic plan for implementation of the state food 
policy under paragraph A. 
The strategic plan must include 
benchmarks and criteria for measuring progress in achieving 
food policy objectives. 
To support implementation of the 
strategic plan, the council shall: 
(1) 
Advise 
the 
Governor, 
the 
Legislature, 
state 
agencies and the public on programs to increase food 
self-sufficiency for the State and enhance the vitality 
of agriculture in the State; 
(2) 
Conduct 
research 
and 
analyze 
issues 
of 
state 
significance relating to food production, distribution 
and consumption; 
(3) 
Solicit public input through public hearings and 
informational meetings; 
(4) 
Review state programs, practices and regulatory 
systems 
affecting 
the 
food 
supply 
system 
and 
make 
recommendations to resolve conflicts, remove burdensome 
requirements, 
improve 
the 
efficiency, 
safety 
and 
productivity of the State's food system and increase 
consumer access to food; 
(5) 
Coordinate and develop collaborative relationships 
between private and public entities involved in food 
production and delivery and with the advisory committee 
established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, 
section 214, subsection 3; and 
(6) 
Coordinate the efforts of state agencies relating 
to food to ensure that state programs are conducted in 
a manner that optimizes their effectiveness, promotes 
locally grown foods and ensures consistency with the 
state food policy developed under paragraph A. 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
SENATE AMENDMENT" 4, to H.P. 1497, L.D. 2107 
8. 
Formation of subcommittees. 
The council shall invite a 
broad base of individuals and representatives of advocacy and 
stakeholder 
groups 
to participate 
in the 
strategic planning 
process 
through 
the 
formation 
of 
subcommittees 
and working 
groups to address issues identified by the council as needing 
further study or particular expertise. 
9. 
Staff assistance. 
The Department of Agriculture, Food 
and Rural Resources shall provide staff to the council. 
10. 
Compensation. 
The legislative members of the council 
are entitled to the legislative per diem, as defined 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 
council. 
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 council. 
II. 
Report. 
The council shall submit a 
report on the 
activities of the council to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having 
jurisdiction over 
agricultural matters 
by 
December 15, 2006. 
12. 
Extension. 
If the council requires a limited extension 
of time to conclude its study and make its report, it may apply 
to the Legislative Council, which may grant the extension. 
13. 
Council 
budget. 
The 
chairs 
of 
the 
council, 
with 
assistance from the council staff, shall administer the council's 
budget. 
Within 10 days after its first meeting, 
the council 
shall present a work plan and proposed budget to the Legislative 
Council for its approval. 
The council may not incur expenses 
that 
would 
result 
in 
the 
council's 
exceeding 
its 
approved 
budget. 
Upon request from the council, the Executive Director of 
the Legislative Council shall promptly provide the council chairs 
and 
staff 
with 
a 
status 
report 
on 
the 
council's 
budget, 
expenditures incurred and paid and available funds.' 
Further amend the bill in section 7 in the 2nd and 3rd lines 
(page 5, lines 27 and 28 in L.D.) by striking out the following: 
"the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 216, subsection 7" 
and inserting in its place the following: 
'section 5' 
Further amend the bill in section 8 in the 2nd and 3rd lines 
(page 6, lines 25 and 26 in L.D.) by striking out the following: 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
SENATE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1497, L.D. 2107 
"the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 216, subsection 7" 
and inserting in its place the following: 
I section 6 I 
Furthe r 
amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any 
nonconsecutive 
Part 
letter 
or 
section 
number 
to 
read 
consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This bill removes the Maine Food Policy Council from the 
statutes and establishes and funds it for one year. 
SPONSORED BY: 
(Senator GAGNON) 
COUNTY: 
Kennebec 
FISCAL ~()Tr HEQURED 
(See attached) 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
Legislative Study 
Approved: 04125/06 frac:.. 
LD 2107 
LR 3147(03) 
An Act to Establish a Food Policy for Maine 
Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment "A" 
Sponsor: Sen. Gagnon 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Limits study to one year 
This amendment eliminates any future ongoing legislative costs by changing this from an ongoing Title 5 Commission 
to a one year study. The projected General Fund cost for four legislators of $1,680 in fiscal year 2006-07 will be 
funded within the Legislature'S study budget. 
LR3147(3) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1