An Act To Prevent the Infestation of Firewood by Invasive Species
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1151
Committee Amendment CA_A_H276 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" 4" to H.P. 789, L.D. 1151, Bill, "An Act To 
Prevent the Infestation of Firewood by Invasive Species" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the foll,?wing: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §§8203 and 8204 are enacted to read: 
§8203. Firewood emergency response group 
, 
The Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestrv shall establish a 
firewood emergency response group to respond to reports of infestation of frrewood by 
invasive species. Membership in the frrewood emergency response group may include 
one forest ranger, one public forester, one private forester, one entomologist, one 
landowner, one municipal official and one law enforcement official as the commissioner 
determines appropriate. At least once a year, the fttewood emergency response group 
shall meet to develop and discuss educational programming and response efforts to 
prepare for an infestation incident involving firewood. 
§8204. Firewood Infestation Education Fund 
The Firewood Infestation Education Fund. referred to in this section as "the fimd," is 
established. 
The fund is a nonlapsing. fund administered by the Department of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry for the purposes of educating the public about and 
promoting public awareness of the dangers of infestation of invasive species tlrrough the 
importation of firewood into the State, which may include Internet marketing, mapping 
resources and tools for landowners. Money in the fimd consists of appropriations or 
allocations for the purpose of the fund and any other money, including federal money and 
other public and private contributions, deposited into the fund. Income from investment 
of the fund must be deposited to the credit of the fund. 
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
\1\ 
\~ ~) • 
. " 
COMMITTEE AlVlENDMENT '/1" to H.P. 789, L.D. 1151 
Firewood Infestation Education Fund N206 
Initiative: Provides allocations to establish the new Firewood Infestation Education Fund 
to be used in educating the public and promoting public awareness of the dangers of 
infestation of invasive species through impOltation of firewood. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
2015-16 
$500 
$500 
2016-17 
$500 
$500 
This amendment, which is the majority report, moves the allocation of the statutory 
provisions of the bill from the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7 to Title 12, establishes the 
number of individuals who may serve on the firewood emergency response group and 
clarifies the nature of the annual meeting to be held by the response group. 
The 
amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: OS/29/15 
;:b;:rcZc 
LD 1151 
LR 168(02) 
An Act To Prevent the Infestation of Firewood by Invasive Species 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment of'!' C H -J) 1 c)j 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
FY2015-16 
FY2016-17 
Projections 
FY2017-18 
Projections 
FY 2018-19 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
$500 
$500 
$500 
$500 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The biIl requires the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) to establish a firewood emergency 
response group to respond to reports of infestation of firewood by invasive species and establishes the Firewood 
Infestation Education Fund within ACF for educational and promotional purposes. The bill includes Other Special 
Revenue Funds allocations of $500 in each of fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17 to establish the fund. No revenue 
source is provided in the bill. Any additional costs to ACF to establish a firewood emergency response group are 
expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0168(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1