Resolve, to Convene a Working Group to Examine the Classification of and Access
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0101
Committee Amendment CA_A_H231 (House)

COMMITTEEAMENDMENT'AtoH.P. 66,L.D.101, "AnActRegardingPublic 
l O 
Records and Fees for Requesting Puolic Records from the Depatiment of Inland Fisheries 
and Wildlife" 
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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, to Convene a Working Group to Examine the Classification of and Access 
to Public _Records Maintained by Certain State Agencies' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inse1iing the following: 
'Sec. 1. Definitions. Resolved: That, as used in this resolve, unless the context 
otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. 
1. ''Depatiment" means the Depatiment oflnland Fisheries and Wildlife, 
2. "Right to Know Advisory Committee" means the Right to Know Advisory 
Committee established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, section 411. 
Sec. 2. 
Worldng group establi~hed. Resolved: 
That the depatiment, in 
consultation with the Right to Know Advisory Committee, shall convene a working groi.1p 
to examine the classification and accessibility of public records maintained by the state 
agencies identified in section 3 and the associated fees that may be charged for those public 
records, referred to in this resolve as "the working group." The depaiiment shall provide 
administrative suppoti to the working group as needed, 
Sec. 3, Working group members. Resolved: That the working group consists 
of the following members: 
1. One member from the depatiment, appointed by the Commissioner of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife, who serves as chair; 
2. Two members from the Right to Know Advisory Committee who are not Legislators, 
one of whom must be the member appointed to represent law enforcement interests 
pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, section 411, subsection 2, paragraph F, 
appointed by the chair of the Right to Know Advisory Committee; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Nto H.P. ~6, L.D. 101 
3. One member from the office of the Secreta1y of State, appointed by the Secreta1y of 
State; 
4. One member from the Department of Marine Resources, appointed by the 
Commissioner of Marine Resources; and 
5. One member from the Department of Public Safety, appointed by the Commissioner 
of Public Safety. 
The chair of the wol'ldng group may appoint additional members ~s detehnined 
necessa1y by a majority of the working group's members. The working groi.1p shall consult 
with a 1;epresentative from the Office of the Attorney General, designated by the Attorney 
General, to assist the working group in its deliberations as needep. 
Sec. 4. Selection of members. Resolved: That, no later than 30 days following 
the effective date of this resolve, the Righf to Know Adviso1y Committee and the state 
agencies identified in section 3 shall notify the department of the member or 111.ember·s 
selected for p~1ticipation in the working group. 
_ Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the working group shall: 
1. Determine the classification and accessibility of public records by: 
A. Reviewing the cunent provisions of the Freedom of Access Act; 
B. Determining which records in the possession of the state agencies ideriti;fied iii 
section 3 are subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Access Act and which records 
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C. Identifying categories of information that the state agencies identified in section 3 
should have the ability to designate as confidential aild no{ subject to public disclosure; 
2. Evaluate fees for public records requests by: 
A. Examining and recommending appropriate fees for processing large-scale requests 
for public records; and 
B. Considering a reasonable cost strncture that balances public access with 
administrative burdens; and 
3, Consider additional areas for review by identifying any other issues related to public 
records management, retention and disclosure as appropriate. 
Sec. 6. Report. Resolved: That, no later than Janua1y 14, 2026, the working group 
shall submit a repott that includes the working group's findings and recommendations, 
'including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary; the Joint 
Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; the Joint Standing Committee on 
Marine Resources; and the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public 
Safety. Each committee that receives a repo1t may repo1t out a bill related to the repmt to 
the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Pait letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
,ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A~ H.P. 66,_L.D. 101 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve. 
The amendment directs the 
Depa1tment of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, in consultation with the Right to Know 
Advisory Committee, to convene a working group composed of representatives from 
specified state agencies and the Right to Know Advisory Committee to examine the 
classification and accessibility of public records maintained by those state agencies and the 
associated fees that may be charged for those public records. The amendment also directs 
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the working group to, by January 14, 2026, submit a repo1t that includes the working 
group's findings and recommendations to the following joint standing committees of the 
Legislature: the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary; the Joint Standing Committee on 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources; and the 
Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. Each committee that 
receives a rep01t may rep01t out a bill related to the report to the Second Regular Session 
of the 132nd Legislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/18/25 LRL 
LD 101 
LR 250(02) 
An Act Regarding Public Records and Fees for Requesting Public Records from the Department of 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
. 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ·/ir( HrZ 3)) 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
· 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the various departments referenced in this bill associated with serving on the worldng group 
are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0250(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1