An Act To Establish the Maine Forest Advisory Board
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1549
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: O'NEIL, PLUECKER, BENNETT, MAXMIN
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I, 12 MRSA §8006

Legislative Document
No. 1549
H.P. 1154
House of Representatives, April 22, 2021
An Act To Establish the Maine Forest Advisory Board
Received by the Clerk of the House on April 20, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed 
pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative O'NEIL of Saco.
Cosponsored by Representative: PLUECKER of Warren, Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, 
MAXMIN of Lincoln.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§24-H is enacted to read:
24-H.   
Environment: 
Natural 
Resources 
Maine Forest Advisory Board
Expenses Only
MRSA 
§8006
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §8006 is enacted to read:
§8006.  Maine Forest Advisory Board established
The Maine Forest Advisory Board, as established in Title 5, section 12004-I, 
subsection 24-H and referred to in this section as "the board," advises the bureau and 
provides input in the development, updating and implementation of the state forest action 
plan required under the federal Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Public Law 
110-234 and Public Law 110-246.
1.  Membership.  The board consists of 18 members appointed as follows:
A.  Four members who serve in an advisory, nonvoting capacity, appointed by the 
Governor as follows:
(1)  A representative of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife;
(2)  A representative of the Department of Marine Resources;
(3)  A representative of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, 
Bureau of Parks and Lands; and
(4)  A representative of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, 
Natural Areas Program;
B.  Six members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:
(1)  A representative of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension;
(2)  A representative of a statewide organization representing the forest products 
industry;
(3)  A representative of an organization of professional logging contractors;
(4)  A representative of a commercial landowner that owns a large amount of 
forested land in the State; 
(5)  A representative of a nonprofit corporation that owns a large amount of 
forested land in the State; and
(6)  A representative of a cooperative representing loggers in the State; and
C.  Eight members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows:
(1)  A representative who is a member of the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation and forestry matters, 
who serves in an advisory, nonvoting capacity; 
(2)  A representative of a land trust with a statewide presence;
(3)  A representative of a statewide organization dedicated to wildlife issues;
(4)  A wildlife biologist with expertise in forest habitat;
(5)  An academic with expertise in forest ecology; 
(6)  A representative of a soil and water conservation district;
(7)  A representative of a statewide labor organization; and
(8)  A representative who is a member of a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe 
or band in this State.  The appointment of the member of a federally recognized 
Indian nation, tribe or band in this State must be based on the joint recommendation 
of the tribal governments of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, the Houlton Band of 
Maliseet Indians, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk, the Passamaquoddy 
Tribe at Sipayik and the Penobscot Nation.  If the tribal governments do not make 
a recommendation or a unanimous joint recommendation, the Speaker of the House 
shall appoint a member of a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or band in 
this State and rotate the appointment among members of each federally recognized 
Indian nation, tribe or band in this State.
2.  Terms; quorum; meetings.  Members serve for a term of 3 years. At the end of a 
term an outgoing member serves until a successor has been appointed. A member may 
serve multiple terms.  The board shall meet at least 4 times a year to conduct business and 
to elect officers. A quorum consists of at least 10 members. The affirmative vote of a 
majority of the members present is necessary to decide any business brought before the 
board.  
3.  Duties of board.  The board shall:  
A.  Advise the bureau on conditions and trends in the forests of the State;
B.  Facilitate dialogue among diverse interests involving forestry matters;
C.  Promote cooperation among state agencies involving forestry matters;
D.  Advise the bureau on forestry policy development and implementation; 
E.  Ensure public participation in the development of forestry policy; 
F.  Provide input in the development, updating and implementation of the state forest 
action plan required under the federal Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, 
Public Law 110-234 and Public Law 110-246; and
G.  Submit reports to the Legislature on its work under this section.
Sec. 3.  Maine Forest Advisory Board report.  The Maine Forest Advisory 
Board, as established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 
24-H, shall submit a report outlining conditions and trends in the State's forests to the 
SUMMARY
This bill creates the Maine Forest Advisory Board to advise the Department of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Forestry on a variety of forestry issues 
and to provide input on the state forest action plan required under the federal Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.  The board is directed to submit a report outlining 
conditions and trends in the State's forests to the Second Regular Session of the 130th 
Legislature.