An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Maple Syrup Task Force
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1178
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: BLACK, DAVIS, KINNEY, MAREAN, PICKETT, SKOLFIELD, TIMBERLAKE, DILL, SAVIELLO
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-H, 7 MRSA §2432

Legislative Document 
No. 1178 
H.P. 811 
House of Representatives, April 1, 2015 
An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Maple Syrup 
Task Force 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative BLACK of Wilton. 
Cosponsored by Senator DAVIS of Piscataquis and 
Representatives: KINNEY of Knox, MAREAN of Hollis, McCABE of Skowhegan, PICKETT 
of Dixfield, SKOLFIELD of Weld, TIMBERLAKE of Turner, Senators: DILL of Penobscot, 
SAVIELLO of Franklin. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-H, sub-§15 is enacted to read: 
15.   
Sec. 2.  7 MRSA c. 417 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 417 
MAINE MAPLE PROMOTION BOARD 
§2431.  Purpose 
The purpose of this chapter is to create a unified organizational structure, under the 
auspices of a state agency, to provide for the advancement of the maple industry in this 
State in the public interest and for the public good.  Under this organizational structure, 
all elements of the maple industry in this State must be represented and work together 
under the leadership of a unified, public board to solve the problems facing the industry. 
§2432.  Maine Maple Promotion Board 
1.  Establishment.  The Maine Maple Promotion Board, as established by Title 5, 
section 12004-H, subsection 15 and referred to in this chapter as "the board," is a body 
corporate and politic and an incorporated public instrumentality of the State and the 
exercise of powers conferred by this chapter is determined to be the performance of 
essential government functions.  For the purposes of the budget, accounts and control, 
purchasing or other provisions of Title 5, Part 4, the board may not be construed to be a 
state agency.  The board consists of 7 members who must be elected in accordance with 
the procedures set forth in this chapter and such additional procedures as the board may 
prescribe by rulemaking. 
2.  Composition of the board; voting.  The board consists of the following 7 
members: 
A.  One current officer from a statewide association of maple producers in this State; 
B.  Two producers of maple sugar products with more than 25,000 taps; 
C.  One producer of maple sugar products with between 5,001 and 25,000 taps; 
D.  One producer of maple sugar products with between 1,501 and 5,000 taps; and 
E.  Two producers of maple sugar products with between 50 and 1,500 taps. 
Subject to such staggered terms as the board may provide by rule, board members serve 
3-year terms, except that the board member from a statewide association of maple 
producers in this State serves only a one-year term and that a board member may 
continue to serve until a successor is duly elected.  Board members may not serve more 
than 3 consecutive terms.  Every board member has one vote, except that the 2 board 
Maine Maple Promotion Board 
Expenses Only 
MRSA §2432
members who are producers of maple sugar products with more than 25,000 taps have 2 
votes each. 
3.  Board officers and committees.  The board shall annually elect officers, 
including a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer and such other officers as it 
determines necessary.  The board may appoint committees from its membership and 
assign to each committee tasks it determines appropriate, subject to the regular oversight 
of the entire board. 
4.  Board meetings.  A regular annual meeting of the board must be held on a date 
determined by the board.  Other meetings, of which there must be at least 6 per year, may 
be held upon the call of the chair or of a majority of the board or by vote of the board.  A 
majority of the board's members constitutes a quorum at any board meeting.  The vote of 
a majority of board members present constitutes the act of the board at a meeting where a 
quorum is present.  All board meetings must be open to the public and must be in 
compliance with Title 1, chapter 13, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. 
5.  Staff.  The board shall appoint an executive director who is the board's chief 
administrative officer and who serves at the pleasure of the board.  The executive director 
shall employ such additional staff as the board directs, and the staff serves at the pleasure 
of the executive director.  Staff of the board is not subject to the Civil Service Law.  The 
salary paid to the executive director and other staff of the board must be fixed by the 
board.  The board may delegate to its staff the power to execute the board's policies and 
programs, subject to regular oversight by the board. 
6.  Compensation.  Board members may be compensated and reimbursed for 
expenses such as travel, meals, lodging and other necessary costs in accordance with such 
guidelines as the board may establish. 
§2433.  Powers and duties of the Maine Maple Promotion Board 
To carry out the purposes of this chapter, the board has the following powers and 
duties. 
1.  Bylaws.  The board may adopt bylaws to govern its functions. 
2.  Programs.  The board may make studies; undertake research, development and 
investment in infrastructure, marketing and promotional programs; publish and 
disseminate information, including, but not limited to, information related to consumer 
education and quality assurance; and implement other programs in furtherance of its 
legislative purposes, provided that the programs undertaken by the board are designed to 
benefit the maple industry in this State or segments of the industry, but may not be 
designed to benefit exclusively any one person or entity involved in the industry. 
3.  Funding; accounts.  In addition to the money received by the board pursuant to 
section 2434, the board may receive and expend funds from any source, public or private, 
that it considers necessary to carry out its legislative purposes.  The board shall establish 
an account, known as the maple promotion account, to receive and expend funds for 
carrying out the board's responsibilities. 
4.  Books and records; confidentiality.  The board shall keep books, records and 
accounts of all its activities, which must be open to inspection and audit by the State at all 
times.  The State Auditor may conduct an annual audit of the financial records of the 
board and shall report the results of the audit to the board, the commissioner, the 
Treasurer of State and the Legislature.  All books and records of the board must be open 
to public inspection in accordance with Title 1, chapter 13, except that records and 
meetings of the board may by vote be closed to the public when public disclosure of 
subject matter of the records or meetings would adversely affect the competitive position 
of the maple industry in this State or segments of the industry. 
5.  Rules.  The board shall adopt routine technical rules, as described in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A, to implement this chapter. 
§2434.  Tap fees 
1.  Tap fees.  Producers of maple sugar products licensed in this State pursuant to 
Title 7, chapter 101 shall pay an annual tap fee.  Fees paid pursuant to this section must 
be collected directly by the board and deposited into the maple promotion account 
established in section 2433, subsection 3. 
The following fee schedule is established: 
A.  For producers with 1 to 250 taps, the fee is $20; 
B.  For producers with 251 to 1,000 taps, the fee is $40; 
C.  For producers with 1,001 to 5,000 taps, the fee is $80; 
D.  For producers with 5,001 to 20,000 taps, the fee is $200; and 
E.  For producers with more than 20,000 taps, the fee is $0.01 per tap. 
§2435.  Money received 
Money received by the board, including all fees collected under section 2434, must 
be used for the activities of the board authorized under this chapter. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes the Maine Maple Promotion Board and creates its basic structure, 
core functions and duties.