An Act To Address Training Requirements for Harbor Masters
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0152
Committee: Marine Resources
Sponsors: McCREIGHT, VITELLI, ARFORD, MATLACK, O'NEIL, PIERCE
Amends: 38 MRSA §1-A

Legislative Document
No. 152
H.P. 108
House of Representatives, January 21, 2021
An Act To Address Training Requirements for Harbor Masters
Received by the Clerk of the House on January 19, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Marine Resources pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative McCREIGHT of Harpswell.
Cosponsored by Senator VITELLI of Sagadahoc and
Representatives: ARFORD of Brunswick, MATLACK of St. George, O'NEIL of Saco, 
PIERCE of Falmouth.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  38 MRSA §1-A, as amended by PL 2017, c. 54, §1, is further amended to 
read:
§1-A.  Training
The following provisions govern the training of harbor masters and deputy harbor 
masters appointed pursuant to section 1 or 2.
1.  Basic training course.  A person appointed or reappointed a harbor master or a 
deputy harbor master after August 31, 2006 must complete a basic harbor master training 
course offered by a statewide harbor masters association that represents Maine harbor 
masters within one year after being appointed or reappointed unless that person has 
previously completed such a course.  The If a person has not held the position of harbor 
master or deputy harbor master within the last 5 years prior to being appointed or 
reappointed, that person upon appointment or reappointment must complete the basic 
harbor master training course.  A person appointed or reappointed a harbor master or deputy 
harbor master shall pay the cost of the training required under this subsection, except that 
the cost of the training may be paid by the municipality at its sole discretion.
1-A.  Advanced training course.  A person appointed or reappointed a harbor master 
or deputy harbor master after January 1, 2022 who has completed the basic training course 
under subsection 1 shall complete an advanced harbor master training course offered by a 
statewide harbor masters association that represents Maine harbor masters within 2 years 
after completing the basic training course under subsection 1.
1-B.  Continuing education.  A person appointed or reappointed a harbor master or 
deputy harbor master who has completed the basic training course under subsection 1 and 
the advanced training course under subsection 1-A shall attend, at a minimum, training 
every other year to maintain certification as a harbor master or deputy harbor master.  The 
training requirement of this subsection may be met by completing continuing education 
training offered by a statewide harbor masters association that represents Maine harbor 
masters.
2.  Reimbursement.  Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit a 
municipality, at its sole discretion, from reimbursing a harbor master or deputy harbor 
master for the cost of training under this section.
3.  Additional training.  Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit a 
municipality from requiring a harbor master or deputy harbor master to obtain training 
beyond that required by this section.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the basic training requirements for harbor masters and deputy harbor 
masters.  The bill also adds new requirements for advanced training and continuing 
education.