2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 12: CONSERVATION › Part 13: INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE › Subpart 2: DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION › Chapter 903: DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE › Subchapter 3: ADVISORY COUNCIL, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES › 12 §10157. Landowners and Land Users Relations Advisory Board

§10157. Landowners and Land Users Relations Advisory Board
1.  Appointment and composition.
[PL 2015, c. 277, §2 (RP).]
1-A.  Appointment and composition.
The Landowners and Land Users Relations Advisory Board, referred to in this chapter as "the advisory board" and established by Title 5, section 12004‑I, subsection 49‑C, consists of the following members:
A. Eleven members, appointed by the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife:
(1) One representative of a statewide small woodland owners association;
(2) One representative of a large landowners association;
(3) One representative of a statewide farmers organization;
(4) Three representatives who hunt, fish or trap;
(5) Two representatives of outdoor recreationists;
(6) Two representatives of environmentalist organizations; and
(7) One representative of land trust organizations.   [PL 2023, c. 405, Pt. A, §28 (AMD).]
[PL 2023, c. 405, Pt. A, §28 (AMD).]
2.  Terms.
Members of the advisory board serve for 3 years. When a vacancy occurs, the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall fill the vacancy by appointing a member from the same category as the member who vacated the advisory board and that new member continues to serve for the remainder of the term.
[PL 2015, c. 277, §4 (AMD).]
3.  Chair; election of board officers.
The members of the advisory board shall annually elect one of its members as chair and one of its members as vice-chair. The chair is responsible for scheduling at least 3 advisory board meetings a year and for preparing the agenda for each meeting.
[PL 2015, c. 277, §4 (AMD).]
4.  Quorum.
A majority of the advisory board members representing landowners and a majority of the advisory board members representing land users combined constitute a quorum.
[PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §36 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
5.  Staffing of advisory board.
The department shall provide administrative and staff support to the advisory board. Department staff shall attend all meetings of the advisory board.
[PL 2015, c. 277, §5 (AMD).]
6.  Meetings.
The advisory board shall hold 3 meetings each year. Additional meetings may be held as necessary to conduct the business of the advisory board. At least once per year, the advisory board and the department shall convene a group of stakeholders to discuss any landowner and outdoor recreationist issues and to provide recommendations to the department and the advisory board for improvements to the landowner relations program.
[PL 2015, c. 277, §5 (AMD).]
7.  Duties.
The advisory board shall:
A. Propose changes to or advise the commissioner on landowner-related laws, rules, department policies and other significant landowner and land user issues;   [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §36 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
B. Review landowner-related policies and procedures, conduct studies, evaluate programs and make recommendations to the commissioner;   [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §36 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
C. Obtain public use of private and public land for recreational activities by assisting with conflict resolution as it pertains to public access issues on both private and public lands and promote greater understanding and cooperation between owners and users of these lands;   [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §36 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
D. Review and make recommendations regarding programs administered by other agencies. The commissioner shall coordinate all reviews;   [PL 2011, c. 208, §1 (AMD).]
E. Conduct an organizational review of the advisory board every 5 years. This review must be designed to provide the information necessary to ascertain whether the advisory board has the membership required by subsection 1‑A and the advisory board is fulfilling its duties. If the review indicates that the advisory board does not have the correct representational membership, a subcommittee of the members of the advisory board must be convened to recommend to the commissioner appropriate changes. At any time, the advisory board may recommend to the commissioner ways to improve the advisory board's membership or function, and the commissioner shall act upon those recommendations;   [PL 2015, c. 277, §6 (AMD).]
F. Establish a protocol to contact and work with the courts to identify public service opportunities for a person who has violated a litter law under Title 17, section 2264‑A; and   [PL 2015, c. 277, §7 (AMD).]
G. Issue an annual report that includes the following:
(1) A summary of the major accomplishments of the program over the last year and plans for the coming year;
(2) A summary of how the department administrative and staff support time was spent, including any time spent by the landowner relations coordinator on matters unrelated to landowner relations;
(3) A summary of landowner-related complaints received and any resulting action on behalf of the department or advisory board;
(4) An accounting of income and expenses of the Landowner Relations Fund established in section 10265; and
(5) An explanation of what the advisory board accomplished pursuant to each of its statutory duties.   [PL 2015, c. 277, §8 (NEW).]
[PL 2015, c. 277, §§6-8 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2003, c. 655, §B36 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2011, c. 208, §§1-3 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 576, §4 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. D, §11 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 277, §§2-8 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 405, Pt. A, §§27, 28 (AMD).