An Act To Amend the Forestry Laws Regarding Responsibility for Compliance with Those Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1770
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: HICKMAN
Amends: 12 MRSA §8868, 12 MRSA §8869, 12 MRSA §8881, 12 MRSA §8883-B, 12 MRSA §8885

Legislative Document
No. 1770
H.P. 1257
House of Representatives, May 23, 2019
An Act To Amend the Forestry Laws Regarding Responsibility for 
Compliance with Those Laws
Submitted by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry pursuant to Joint 
Rule 204.
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HICKMAN of Winthrop.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §8868, sub-§8 is enacted to read:
8.  Responsible party.  "Responsible party" means:
A.  The landowner owning the property at the time timber harvesting activities are 
conducted;
B.  The landowner’s designated agent at the time timber harvesting activities are 
conducted;
C.  The professional forester or the employer of the professional forester who:
(1)  Signs a document pertaining to the timber harvesting activities;
(2)  Supervises the timber harvesting activities; or
(3)  Certifies that the timber harvesting activities are conducted in accordance 
with a timber harvest plan, permit, variance or other required document; or
D.  The person who conducts the timber harvesting activities.
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §8869, sub-§15 is enacted to read:
15.  Responsible party.  All responsible parties are jointly and severally responsible 
for compliance with this section and liable for violations of rules adopted pursuant to this 
subchapter.  A responsible party who orders, contracts for or conducts any activity in 
violation of this section or of rules adopted pursuant to this subchapter commits a civil 
violation and is subject to the penalties provided in chapter 809.
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §8881, sub-§8-A is enacted to read:
8-A.  Responsible party.  "Responsible party" has the same meaning as in section 
8868, subsection 8.
Sec. 4.  12 MRSA §8883-B, sub-§7-A is enacted to read:
7-A.  Responsible party.  All responsible parties are jointly and severally 
responsible for compliance with this section and liable for violations of rules adopted 
pursuant to this subchapter.  A responsible party who orders, contracts for or conducts 
any activity in violation of this section or of rules adopted pursuant to this subchapter 
commits a civil violation and is subject to the penalties provided in this section.
Sec. 5.  12 MRSA §8885, sub-§7 is enacted to read:
7.  Responsible party.  All responsible parties are jointly and severally responsible 
for compliance with this section and liable for violations of rules adopted pursuant to this 
subchapter.  A responsible party who orders, contracts for or conducts any activity in 
violation of this section or of rules adopted pursuant to this subchapter commits a civil 
violation and is subject to the penalties provided in this section.
SUMMARY
This bill clarifies in the laws governing forest practices and forest landowner and 
wood processor reporting requirements that the parties responsible for compliance with 
those laws include the landowner, the landowner's designated agent, the professional 
forester, the professional forester's employee and the person who conducts timber 
harvesting activities.