An Act To Improve Geographic Information System Data Acquisition and Maintenance”
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1719
Committee Amendment CA_B_S462 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to S.P. 568, L.D. 1719, Bill, “An Act To 
Improve Geographic Information System Data Acquisition and Maintenance”
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'Resolve, To Establish a Stakeholder Group To Study the Changes Required To 
Modernize the Acquisition, Maintenance, Storage and Distribution of Geographic 
Data in Maine' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the technology supporting geographic information systems has changed 
substantially since the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Office of 
Information Technology, Office of Geographic Information Systems was established and 
geographic information systems are a foundational tool in studying and evaluating the 
effects of public policies, supporting economic development and communicating complex 
issues to stakeholders; and
Whereas, a repository for geographic information is urgently needed to store, 
maintain and distribute geographic information to geographic information systems users; 
and
Whereas, the amount of geographic information has grown exponentially and 
continues to increase dramatically and the need for professional staffing to oversee and 
manage the acquisition, storage and distribution of geographic information from public, 
private and nonprofit sources has outstripped the capacity of the Office of Geographic 
Information Systems as established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 
163, subchapter 3; and
Whereas, the Maine Library of Geographic Information is inadequately supported 
to meet its legislative mandate as established under Title 5, chapter 163, subchapter 4; 
and
Date: 
(Filing No. S-          )
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to S.P. 568, L.D. 1719
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Whereas, access to parcel, engineering, zoning and other geographic information 
developed by Maine communities is important to the efficient operations of state 
agencies; and
Whereas, access to historical geographic information provides key context to 
changes in the State's resources, development and environmental patterns and informs 
decision making and research; and
Whereas, economic development, planning for climate change and many other 
activities require research and analysis based on access to both current and historical 
geographic information; and
Whereas, the primary focus of the Office of Information Technology and the Office 
of Geographic Information Systems is providing software and data protection for state 
agencies, not providing access for nonstate agencies; and
Whereas, geographic information system data is far different from ordinary data 
required by most Office of Information Technology users and requires different protocols 
for delivery and storage, and many nonstate users of data do not use the same software as 
geographic information system users within state agencies; and
Whereas, opportunities for grants and partnerships to acquire and distribute data 
may not coincide with the state budgeting process and may require more flexible access 
to required matching funds; and
Whereas, the importance of accurate geospatial data is recognized as fundamental 
to the well-being of the State's citizens and to the efficiency of both governmental and 
nongovernmental activities in the State; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it
Sec. 1.  Stakeholder group established; duties. Resolved:  That the 
Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall, within existing resources, 
form a stakeholder group to:
1.  Review the State's legislation regarding geographic information systems and make 
recommendations to the Legislature for legislation regarding any suggested changes to 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 163, subchapters 3 and 4 and any other 
provisions the stakeholder group determines necessary;
2.  Review the resources needed to effectively manage the Maine Library of 
Geographic Information, specifically considering the need for one full-time equivalent 
geographic information system information officer whose responsibilities will be to 
advise the Maine Library of Geographic Information Board and the commissioner 
regarding geographic information system data needs for acquisition, maintenance and 
distribution of geographic information system data and one full-time equivalent 
geolibrarian with knowledge of geographic information system data models, concepts, 
techniques and technologies and information and library science;
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to S.P. 568, L.D. 1719
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
3.  Consider the optimal administrative setting of the Maine Library of Geographic 
Information;
4. Consider funding mechanisms for the staff of the Maine Library of Geographic 
Information, including support through the General Fund or through fees charged to data 
users;
5.  Consider funding mechanisms, including the General Fund and other mechanisms, 
to support necessary acquisition of orthoimagery, LIDAR and other essential datasets; 
and
6. Consider funding mechanisms for technologies such as hardware, software and 
data storage and services.
Sec. 2.  Membership. Resolved:  That the Commissioner of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry shall invite, at a minimum, the following to participate as 
members of the stakeholder group under section 1:
1.  A public member who represents a statewide association of engineers;
2.  A public member who represents a statewide association of surveyors;
3.  A member of the Maine Library of Geographic Information Board;
4.  The Chief of the Penobscot Nation or the chief's designee;
5.  A representative of the University of Maine System;
6.  A representative of a postsecondary educational institution not associated with the 
University of Maine System;
7.  A representative of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, 
Office of Information Technology, Office of Geographic Information Systems users 
group;
8.  The Governor or the Governor's designee;
9.  The executive director of the Maine Library of Geographic Information;
10.  The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services or the 
commissioner's designee;
11.  The Commissioner of Environmental Protection or the commissioner's designee;
12.  The Commissioner of Transportation or the commissioner's designee;
13.  The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or the commissioner's 
designee; and
14.  The Commissioner of Marine Resources or the commissioner's designee.
Sec. 3.  Report. Resolved:  That, no later than February 1, 2021, the Department 
of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall submit a report that includes findings and 
recommendations of the stakeholder group under section 1, including suggested 
legislation, for presentation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation and forestry matters.  The joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to S.P. 568, L.D. 1719
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
forestry matters may submit a bill to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature 
based on the report.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve that directs the Commissioner of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, within existing resources, to form a stakeholder 
group to:
1.  Review Maine's legislation regarding geographic information systems and make 
recommendations to the Legislature for legislation regarding any suggested changes to 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 163, subchapters 3 and 4 and any other 
provisions the stakeholder group determines necessary;
2.  Review the resources needed to effectively manage the Maine Library of 
Geographic Information, specifically considering the need for one full-time equivalent 
geographic information system information officer whose responsibilities will be to 
advise the Maine Library Geographic Information Board and the commissioner regarding 
geographic information system data needs for acquisition, maintenance and distribution 
of geographic information system data and one full-time equivalent geolibrarian with 
knowledge of geographic information system data models, concepts, techniques and 
technologies and information and library science;
3.  Consider the optimal administrative setting of the Maine Library of Geographic 
Information;
4.  Consider funding mechanisms for the staff of the Maine Library of Geographic 
Information, including support through the General Fund or through fees charged to data 
users;
5.  Consider funding mechanisms, including the General Fund and other mechanisms, 
to support necessary acquisition of orthoimagery, LIDAR, and other essential datasets; 
and
6.  Consider funding mechanisms for technologies such as hardware, software and 
data storage and services.
The amendment also provides that, no later than February 1, 2021, the Department of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry must submit a report that includes findings and 
recommendations, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation and
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to S.P. 568, L.D. 1719
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
forestry matters.  The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
agriculture, conservation and forestry matters may submit a bill to the First Regular 
Session of the 130th Legislature based on the report.  The amendment also adds an 
emergency preamble and emergency clause.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Approved: 07/13/20
LD 1719
LR 736(04)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Minor cost increase - General Fund
Minor cost increase - Highway Fund
Any additional costs to departments and agencies from participating in a stakeholder group to review the 
administration, funding and technology needs of the state's geographic information systems can be absorbed within 
existing budgeted resources.
An Act To Improve Geographic Information System Data Acquisition and Maintenance
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
LR0736(04) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1