An Act To Create a Subcommittee of the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species To Recommend Ways To Reduce the Threat of Further Infestations
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1826
Committee Amendment CA_A_H774 (House)
Amends: 38 MRSA §1871

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "ff" to H.P. 1359, L.D. 1826, "An Act To Create a 
Subcommittee of the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance 
Species To Recommend Ways To Reduce the Threat of Further Infestations" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Require Reporting by the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic 
Plants and Nuisance Species Regarding Recommendations To Reduce the Threat of 
Further Infestations' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of the emergency preamble. 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §1871, first 1, as amended by PL 2013, c. 300, §16, is further 
amended to read: 
The Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species, as 
established by Title 5, section 12004-D, subsection 6 and referred to in this chapter as ~the 
.!!.task force," is established to advise the department, the Department of Inland Fisheries 
and Wildlife, the Department of Marine Resources and the Legislature on matters 
pertaining to research, control and eradication of invasive aquatic plants and nuisance 
species. 
Sec. 2. 38 MRSA §1871, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2013, c. 300, §17, is further 
amended to read: 
4. Duties. The task force may make shall develop fmdings and recommendations te 
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tho department, including any suggested legislation, on any of the following matters and, 
pursuant to subsection 4-A. submit a report that includes those findings and 
recommendations to the department, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the 
Department of Marine Resources and the Legislature: 
A. The importation and transportation of invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" /I" to H.P. 1359, L.D. 1826 
B. Monitoring and educational programs aimed at the control of invasive aquatic plants 
and nuisance species; 
C. A comprehensive state invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species management 
plan that meets the requirements of the National Invasive Species Act of 1996, 16 
United States Code, Section 4 722; 
D. A statewide inventory of invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species; 
E. Methods to improve cooperation of state, provincial, federal and nongovernmental 
agencies in the area of invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species prevention and 
control; 
F. Recommendations on the feasibility of implementing lake protection assessment 
districts that allow residents and owners of land within 250 feet of inland waters to 
assess themselves to raise funds to assist in the prevention and control of invasive 
aquatic plants; and 
G. Other recommendations as necessary to control the introduction of invasive aquatic 
plants and nuisance species in the State. 
In developing findings and recommendations under this subsection, the task force shall 
convene a stakeholder group that includes, but is not limited to, task force members, state 
natural resources agency staff and other persons with relevant experience or expe1tise 
including representatives of local and regional lake associations and representatives of lake 
protection organizations. 
Sec. 3. 38 MRSA §1871, sub-§4-A is enacted to read: 
4-A. Report. On or before January 15, 2023, and biennially thereafter, the task force 
shall submit to the department, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the 
Department of Marine Resources and the joint standing committees of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over environment and natural resources matters, inland fisheries and 
wildlife matters and marine resources matters a report containing its findings and 
recommendations, including any suggested legislation, developed pursuant to subsection 
4. After reviewing the repo1t, each joint standing committee may report out legislation 
related to the report. 
Sec. 4. Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance 
Species; report. The Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance 
Species established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-D, 
subsection 6 shall include in the report required by Title 38, section 1871, subsection 4-A 
and due January 15, 2023 additional findings and recommendations on: 
1. Methods to expedite and improve the process for treating lakes infested with invasive 
aquatic plants with newly developed herbicide treatments or vegetation removal processes; 
2. Methods to expedite and improve restrictions limiting the use of watercraft on areas 
of lakes infested with invasive aquatic plants; 
3. The feasibility of requiring inspections of watercraft put into or taken out of lakes 
infested with invasive aquatic plants or lakes identified by the Department of 
Environmental Protection to be at risk of infestation; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEEAMENDMENT'W"toH.P.1359,L.D.1826 
4. The permit requirements for recreational and sporting events held on lakes infested 
with invasive aquatic plants or lakes identified by the department to be at risk of infestation.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment changes the title of and replaces the bill, removing the emergency 
preamble and emergency clause. It amends the statute governing the Interagency Task 
Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species to require that, on or before January 
15, 2023, and biennially thereafter, the task force submit to the Department of 
Environmental Protection, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the 
Department of Marine Resources and the joint standing committees of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over environment and natural resources matters, inland fisheries and 
wildlife matters and marine resources matters a report containing its findings and 
recommendations, including any suggested legislation, on a variety of matters relating to 
controlling the introduction of invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species in the State. 
After reviewing the report, each joint standing committee may report out legislation related 
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to the report. 
The amendment also requires the task force, in developing those findings and 
recommendations, to convene a stakeholder group that includes, but is not limited to, task 
force members, state natural resources agency staff and other persons with relevant 
experience or expertise including representatives of local and regional lake associations 
and representatives of lake protection organizations. It provides that for the first report due 
January 15, 2023, the task force is required to include additional one-time findings on a 
number of specified matters. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 02/09/22 :rk?ae 
LD 1826 
LR2466(02) 
An Act To Create a Subcommittee of the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and 
Nuisance Species To Recommend Ways To Reduce the Threat of Further Infestations 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '/J(f/-111l/) 
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs to the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species to develop 
certain findings and recommendations and to report by January 15, 2023, and for the Department of Environmental 
Protection, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Marine Resources to participate in 
a stakeholder group convened to advise on these matters, are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within 
existing budgeted resources. 
LR2466(02) - Fiscnl Note - Pn1,e 1 of 1