An Act Relating to the Unlawful Cutting of Trees
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0059
Committee Amendment CA_A_S175 (Senate)
Amends: 12 MRSA §8869-A

COMMITTEE AMENDME:~T " J " to S.P. 26, L.D. 59, Bill, "An Act Relating to 
the Unlawful Cutting of Trees" 
" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §8869-A is enacted to read: 
§8869-A. Prior division approval for harvesting trees and authority to issue stop-
work orders 
The division shall establish a prior approval process for harvesting trees by a person 
that has committed 2 violations of unlawful cutting of trees pursuant to Title 17, section 
2510, subsection 1. The process must include at a minimum the following: 
1. Written approval. Requiring written approval from the division for the person to 
harvest trees on any land in the State; and 
2. Bonding. Requiring the person to post a private bond in an amount not less than 
$500,000 before commencing tre:e harvesting. 
The division shall issue a stop-work order if the requirements of this section are not 
met at the time harvesting is occurring. 
For the purposes of this section, "person" means an individual, corporation, 
partnership, association or any other legal entity. 
The Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall adopt rules to 
carry out the provisions of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are major 
substantive rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 2. 
Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~ 
• '+J. 
l3 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A' to S.P. 26, L.D. 59 
Forest Policy and Management - Division of 0240 
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for rule-making costs. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
2013-14 
$3,700 
$3,700 
2014-15 
$0 
$0 
This amendment replaces the bill, which establishes criminal penalties for the 
unlawful cutting of trees in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17, section 2510. The 
amendment requires the Division of Forestry to establish a process that applies to a 
person that has committed 2 violations of unlawful cutting of trees. The process must 
include requiring written approval from the division prior to harvesting, requiring 
bonding in an amount not less than $500,000 before harvesting and the division's issuing 
a stop-work order if the requirements of prior approval and bonding are not met at the 
time harvesting is occurring. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
is required to adopt major substantive rules to carry out the provisions of this legislation. 
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/28/13 
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LD59 
LR 815(02) 
An Act Relatin,g to the Unlawful Cutting of Trees 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '/J\1(s -11-6 \ 
Committee: Agrllculture, Conservation and Forestry 
:,; 
Fis(:al Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2013-14 
FY 2014-15 
Projections 
FY 2015-16 
Projections 
FY 2016-17 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$3,700 
$3,700 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
The bill includes a one-time General Fund appropriation of$3,700 in fiscal year 2013-14 to the Department of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry for rulemaking costs, including printing, advertising and room rental. 
LR0815(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1 
$0 
$0