Resolve, To Establish a Task Force To Examine Agricultural Issues
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1747
Committee Amendment CA_A_S388 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A-" to S.P. 646, L.D. 1747, "Resolve, To Establish 
a Task Force To Examine Agricultural Issues" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Direct the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry To 
Establish a Departmental Task Force To Examine Agricultural Issues' 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the emergency preamble and 
before the emergency clause and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Commissioner to establish a departmental task force. Resolved: 
That the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, referred to in this 
resolve as "the commissioner," shall convene a departmental task force to study 
agricultural issues in the State. The commissioner shall invite representatives from each 
of the following to participate in the departmental task force: 
1. Two members representing value-added manufacturers, recommended by the 
Maine Potato Board and the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine; 
2. A farmer representing the wild blueberry industry; 
3. A farmer representing the dairy industry; 
4, A farmer representing the potato industry; 
5. A farmer representing the aquaculture industry; 
6. A farmer representing the interests of the small fruit or vegetable growers; 
7. A farmer appointed by the Agricultural Council of Maine; 
8. A farmer appointed by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association; 
9. A contractor or owner representing the Professional Logging Contractors of 
Maine; 
10. A member of Maine Woodland Owners; 
COMMITTEE AMENDM~NT 
~-
~ 
~-
12. 
COMMITTEEAMENDMENT"A "toS.P. 646,L.D.1747 
11. A member of the Maine Farm Bureau; 
12. A member representing a national food retailer; 
13. A member with expertise in international trade policy; and 
14. An economist from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service or, if 
unavailable, an economist from the University of Maine System; and be it further 
Sec. 2. 
Chair; convening of initial meeting. Resolved: 
That the 
commissioner shall designate the economist from the University of Maine Cooperative 
Extension Service or the economist from the University of Maine System to serve as 
chair of the departmental task force. If no economist from the University of Maine 
System is available, the commissioner shall designate another member of the 
departmental task force to serve as chair. The commissioner shall convene the initial 
meeting of the departmental task force no later than 30 days following the effective date 
of this resolve; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Duties. Resolved: That the departmental task force shall examine with 
reference to agricultural issues: 
1. Barriers to economic prosperity in rural parts of the State, including investment 
and development challenges, workforce training, labor shortages and marketing and 
branding opportunities, such as the "Made in Maine" initiative; 
2. How innovation, infrastructure and technology may play a role in long-term, 
sustainable agricultural and rural success; 
3. The potential impact of requiring state facilities to use a certain percentage of 
agriculturally derived biofuel; 
4. The effect of international trade policy on state agricultural commodities; and 
5. The recommendations of the report of the 2003 Blaine House Conference on 
Maine's Natural Resource-based Industry: Charting a New Course; and be it further 
Sec. 4. 
Meetings. Resolved: That the chair, in consultation with the 
commissioner, shall schedule meetings of the departmental task force as necessary to 
complete the departmental task force's assigned· duties. The commissioner shall notify 
members of the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
agriculture, conservation and forestry matters and other Legislators with a known interest 
in agricultural issues of all meetings of the departmental task force; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Staffing and funding. Resolved: That the Department of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry shall provide staff support to the departmental task force from 
existing resources. The commissioner may use contributions of money, services and 
supplies accepted under existing authority to support the work of the departmental task 
force; and be it further 
Sec. 6. 
Agency cooperation. Resolved: That the commissioner, the 
Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the Chief Executive 
Officer of the Finance Authority of Maine shall each designate a representative from their 
respective agencies to serve as a resource to the departmental task force, respond to 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
C:i· 
~ 
~-· 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A." to S.P. 646, L.D. 1747 
information requests and attend departmental task force meetings upon request; and be it 
further 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than January 15, 2019, the departmental 
task force shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including 
suggested legislation to implement the recommendations, for presentation to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation 
and forestry matters; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Authority to submit legislation. Resolved: That the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation and 
forestry matters may submit a bill pertaining to the report submitted pursuant to section 7 
to the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, directs the 
Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to convene a departmental task 
force to study agricultural issues in the State, including the recommendations presented in 
the 2003 Blaine House Conference on Maine's Natural Resource-based Industry: Charting 
a New Course report. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 03/06/18 ;t,,,ac. 
LD 1747 
LR2742(02) 
Resolve, To Establish a Task Force To Examine Agricultural Issues 
':6£) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "pt \,? .... ~ 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to convene and staff the task force 
are assumed to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. Any additional costs for other 
specified departments and agencies to serve as a resource to the task force are assumed to be minor and can be 
absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2742(02)- Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1