Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Study the Effects of Ocean Acidification and Its Potential Effects on Commercial Shellfish Harvested and Grown along the Maine Coast
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1602
Committee: Marine Resources
Sponsors: DEVIN, SAVIELLO, BEAVERS, BERRY, CAMPBELL, CASSIDY, CHENETTE, CHIPMAN, COOPER, DORNEY, EVANGELOS, EVES, GATTINE, GIDEON, GILBERT, GILLWAY, GOODE, GRAHAM, GRANT, HAMANN, HERBIG, HICKMAN, HOBBINS, HUBBELL, JONES, JORGENSEN, KENT, KINNEY, KORNFIELD, KRUGER, KUMIEGA, KUSIAK, MARKS, MASTRACCIO, MITCHELL, MOONEN, MORIARTY, MORRISON, NELSON, PARRY, PLANTE, ROCHELO, RYKERSON, SAUCIER, SAXTON, SCHNECK, SHORT, WILSON, WINCHENBACH, ALFOND, BOYLE, BURNS, GERZOFSKY, JACKSON, JOHNSON, LANGLEY, MAZUREK, VITELLI

Legislative Document 
No. 1602 
H.P. 1174 
House of Representatives, December 30, 2013 
Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Study the Effects of Ocean 
Acidification and Its Potential Effects on Commercial Shellfish Harvested 
and Grown along the Maine Coast 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 203. 
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 23, 2013.  Referred to the Committee on Marine 
Resources pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative DEVIN of Newcastle. 
Cosponsored by Senator SAVIELLO of Franklin and 
Representatives: BEAVERS of South Berwick, BERRY of Bowdoinham, CAMPBELL of Newfield, 
CASSIDY of Lubec, CHENETTE of Saco, CHIPMAN of Portland, COOPER of Yarmouth, 
DeCHANT of Bath, DORNEY of Norridgewock, EVANGELOS of Friendship, Speaker EVES of 
North Berwick, GATTINE of Westbrook, GIDEON of Freeport, GILBERT of Jay, GILLWAY of 
Searsport, GOODE of Bangor, GRAHAM of North Yarmouth, GRANT of Gardiner, HAMANN of 
South Portland, HERBIG of Belfast, HICKMAN of Winthrop, HOBBINS of Saco, HUBBELL of Bar 
Harbor, JONES of Freedom, JORGENSEN of Portland, KENT of Woolwich, KINNEY of Limington, 
KORNFIELD of Bangor, KRUGER of Thomaston, KUMIEGA of Deer Isle, KUSIAK of Fairfield, 
MacDONALD of Boothbay, MARKS of Pittston, MASTRACCIO of Sanford, McCABE of 
Skowhegan, McCLELLAN of Raymond, McGOWAN of York, MITCHELL of the Penobscot Nation, 
MOONEN of Portland, MORIARTY of Cumberland, MORRISON of South Portland, NELSON of 
Falmouth, PARRY of Arundel, PLANTE of Berwick, ROCHELO of Biddeford, RYKERSON of 
Kittery, SAUCIER of Presque Isle, SAXTON of Harpswell, SCHNECK of Bangor, SHORT of 
Pittsfield, WILSON of Augusta, WINCHENBACH of Waldoboro, Senators: President ALFOND of 
Cumberland, BOYLE of Cumberland, BURNS of Washington, GERZOFSKY of Cumberland, 
JACKSON of Aroostook, JOHNSON of Lincoln, LANGLEY of Hancock, MAZUREK of Knox, 
VITELLI of Sagadahoc. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Commission To Study the Effects of Ocean Acidification and Its 
Potential Effects on Commercial Shellfish Harvested and Grown along the Maine Coast 
is established to ensure effective coordination of the programs and scientific research 
regarding ocean acidification and to provide policies and tools to respond to the adverse 
effects of ocean acidification on commercially important shellfish fisheries and Maine's 
shellfish aquaculture industry; and 
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 within 
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, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the Commission To Study the Effects of Ocean Acidification and Its Potential 
Effects on Commercial Shellfish Harvested and Grown along the Maine Coast, referred 
to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That the commission consists of 
members appointed as follows: 
1.  One public member appointed by the Governor; 
2.  One member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; 
3.  Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows:  
A.  One member of the House of Representatives; and 
B.  One representative of an environmental advocacy group; 
4.  Six members appointed by the Commissioner of Marine Resources as follows: 
A.  One aquaculturist; 
B.  One person who fishes commercially; 
C.  One chemical oceanographer; 
D.  One physical oceanographer, marine biologist or biological oceanographer; 
E.  One marine biologist or biological oceanographer; and 
F.  One representative from the Department of Marine Resources; and 
5.  One representative from the Department of Environmental Protection appointed 
by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection; and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the Senate member and the House of 
Representatives member shall jointly chair 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.  After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission.  If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority 
for the commission to meet and conduct its business; and be it further 
Sec. 5.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the commission shall study and review existing 
literature and data on ocean acidification and how it has affected or could potentially 
affect commercially harvested and grown shellfish along the coast of the State including: 
1.  The factors driving ocean acidification; 
2.  How to mitigate ocean acidification; 
3.  How to strengthen the scientific monitoring, research and analysis regarding the 
causes of and trends in ocean acidification; and 
4.  What actions are necessary to protect commercially valuable shellfish species and 
the State's shellfish aquaculture industry. 
The commission shall develop a plan of outreach to the general public to increase 
awareness of ocean acidification based on the study and review; and be it further 
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 7.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than November 5, 2014, the 
commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over marine resources matters.  The joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters is authorized to submit a 
bill to the First Regular Session of the 127th Legislature related to the subject matter of 
the report.  
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Commission To Study the Effects of Ocean Acidification 
and Its Potential Effects on Commercial Shellfish Harvested and Grown along the Maine 
Coast.