Resolve, Directing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to Conduct an Accessibility Study of All Maine State Parks and Historic Sites and to Develop a Plan to Remove Access Barriers
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0988
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: DAUGHTRY, HEPLER, BEEBE-CENTER, BRENNER, CARNEY, CURRY, JACKSON, RENY, DOUDERA, ZEIGLER

Legislative Document
No. 988
S.P. 407
In Senate, March 2, 2023
Resolve, Directing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry to Conduct an Accessibility Study of All Maine State Parks 
and Historic Sites and to Develop a Plan to Remove Access Barriers
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator DAUGHTRY of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative HEPLER of Woolwich and
Senators: BEEBE-CENTER of Knox, BRENNER of Cumberland, CARNEY of Cumberland, 
CURRY of Waldo, President JACKSON of Aroostook, RENY of Lincoln, Representatives: 
DOUDERA of Camden, ZEIGLER of Montville.
Preamble.  Whereas, in 2021, Maine's 48 state parks and historic sites, which are 
operated and maintained by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, 
welcomed more than 3,300,000 visitors, who are estimated to have generated more than 
$100,000,000 in revenue for Maine's economy; and
Whereas, Maine recently launched a $50,000,000 initiative to rebuild Maine's state 
parks; and
Whereas, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was passed over 32 
years ago, and was based on congressional findings that individuals with disabilities 
continually encounter various forms of discrimination, including the discriminatory effects 
of architectural barriers and the failure to make modifications to existing facilities and 
practices; and
Whereas, Maine individuals with disabilities continue to face significant barriers in 
accessing Maine's state parks and historic sites; and
Whereas, the first step to ensuring that Maine's state parks and historic sites are 
accessible to all Maine individuals and visitors with disabilities is to conduct studies to 
identify access barriers and engage the disability community in the development of a plan 
to remediate those barriers; now, therefore, be it
Sec. 1. Definitions.  Resolved: That, as used in this resolve, the following terms 
have the following meanings.
A. "Historic site" has the same meaning as in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, 
section 1801, subsection 5.
B. "Park" has the same meaning as in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 
1801, subsection 7.
Sec. 2. Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to conduct 
accessibility study on parks and historic sites. Resolved: That the Department of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall conduct an accessibility study inspecting each 
park and historic site in the State to identify barriers to physical and program accessibility 
for individuals with disabilities.  In conducting the study, the department shall:
A. Engage individuals and entities with experience and expertise in conducting 
accessibility studies for developed outdoor areas;
B. Obtain input and guidance from individuals with a wide range of disabilities; and
C. Use the United States Department of Justice's 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible 
Design and the United States Access Board's published accessibility guidelines for 
developed outdoor areas.
Sec. 3. Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to develop 
remediation plan.  Resolved: That the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry shall develop a remediation plan based upon the accessibility study in section 2. 
In developing the remediation plan, the department shall obtain input and guidance in every 
stage of the development process from individuals with a wide range of disabilities. The 
remediation plan must:
A. List all of the barriers to physical and program accessibility identified by the 
accessibility study;
B. Categorize the barriers listed in paragraph A and prioritize the barriers or categories 
of barriers for removal;
C. Provide a schedule with dates for the anticipated removal of each barrier or category 
of barriers; and
D. Include a reasonable estimate of the costs of removing each barrier or category of 
barriers.
Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That, by December 6, 2023, the Department of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall submit the plan required under section 3, 
along with any suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry.  The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation 
and Forestry may submit legislation based upon the report to the Second Regular Session 
of the 131st Legislature. 
SUMMARY
This resolve requires the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to 
conduct an accessibility study of every Maine state park and historic site to identify barriers 
to physical and program accessibility for individuals with disabilities and to develop a 
remediation plan to prioritize and remove the barriers. The department is required to submit 
the plan, with any recommended legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, which may submit legislation based upon the 
report to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.