An Act to Expand the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1532
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: STEWART
Amends: 12 MRSA §10108, 20-A MRSA §4732

Legislative Document
No. 1532
S.P. 616
In Senate, April 8, 2025
An Act to Expand the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Outdoor Education Programs to Schools and Communities
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator STEWART of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Senator: GUERIN of Penobscot, Representatives: MASON of Lisbon, WOOD 
of Greene, WOODSOME of Waterboro.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §10108, sub-§13 is enacted to read:
13.  Satellite sites; collaboration with Department of Education.  The department 
may conduct a program under this section in a location owned by a 3rd party through a 
lease or partnership with the 3rd party. The commissioner may collaborate with the 
Department of Education in designing a curriculum for a program under this section that 
qualifies as instruction under Title 20-A, section 4732 and engaging with a secondary 
school to participate in the program. A secondary school may elect to participate in the 
program.  If a secondary school participates in a program under this subsection, the program 
may be conducted in whole or in part in a location under this subsection or in whole or in 
part at the secondary school or at a facility of the school administrative unit in which the 
secondary school is located. A student under Title 20-A, section 5001-A, subsection 3, 
paragraph A and a member of the public may attend a program approved for secondary 
school instruction under this subsection.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §4732 is enacted to read:
§4732.  Outdoor education programs
A secondary school may provide instruction in outdoor education under Title 12, 
section 10108 in collaboration with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Sec. 3.  Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to conduct programs 
at diverse locations in State.  By January 1, 2026, the Department of Inland Fisheries 
and Wildlife shall secure a minimum of 3 locations in geographically diverse areas of the 
State to conduct a program pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 10108, 
subsection 13. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall collaborate with the 
Department of Education to develop a curriculum for one or more programs under Title 
20-A, section 4732 to be conducted at the locations identified under this section and engage 
with secondary schools to participate in the program or programs as soon as practicable in 
calendar year 2026.
Sec. 4.  Report.  By November 4, 2026, the Department of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife shall submit a report on the securing of and the suitability of locations in which 
programs are held and the effectiveness of the collaboration with the Department of 
Education and secondary schools under section 3, along with any recommended legislation, 
to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries 
and wildlife matters, which may report out legislation based upon the report to the 133rd 
Legislature in 2027.
SUMMARY
This bill allows the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to conduct the 
department's educational programs at locations owned by 3rd parties through leases or 
partnerships with the 3rd parties. The bill allows the Department of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife to collaborate with the Department of Education to develop a curriculum for a 
program to allow the program to count as secondary school instruction. A secondary school 
may elect to participate in the program, which may be held in whole or in part at the 3rd-
party location or the secondary school or a school administrative unit facility. Members of 
the public and homeschoolers may attend the programs.  The bill directs the Department of 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to secure at least 3 locations in geographically diverse areas 
of the State by January 1, 2026 and to develop a curriculum for one or more programs to 
be conducted at the locations as soon as practicable in 2026.