An Act To Expand the Landowner Relations Program at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10108, sub-§4-A, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 576, §3, is amended to read:
(1) Building and maintaining an educated and motivated group of outdoor recreationists who meet and promote high standards of courtesy, respect and responsibility in their relations with landowners and who are willing to volunteer in program-related projects or efforts to improve landowner relations;
(2) Issuing a certificate to persons wishing to support or participate in the program. The commissioner may establish a fee for the certificate, which may not exceed $20. All proceeds from the fees must be deposited in the Landowner Relations Fund established in section 10265;
(3) Developing and disseminating to outdoor recreationists a code of ethics or other information promoting high standards of courtesy, respect and responsibility in their relations with landowners;
(4) Developing an outreach program that provides educational materials and signs and that disseminates information to landowners and land users about landowner rights, landowner liability protections, the tradition of allowing outdoor recreationists to use private land and law enforcement resources available to landowners;
(5) Engaging organizations and companies representing landowners, conservation groups, recreationists, land trusts and other organizations involved in outdoor recreation in developing, implementing and publicizing the program;
(6) Organizing or otherwise promoting landowner appreciation events;
(7) Working with representatives of various state agencies to promote and broaden public access to private lands for recreational use and to enhance enforcement of applicable laws; and
(8) Seeking and developing sources of funding to support the program . ; and
(9) Enhancing landowners' relationships with outdoor recreationists, including ATV riders, archeologists, aestheticists, bicyclists, bird watchers, children at play, conservationists, dog walkers, dual sport motorcyclists, preservationists, equestrians, anglers, foragers, geocachers, geologists, hang gliders, hikers, hunters, mushers, paddle sport enthusiasts, photographers, rock climbers, runners, scouts, sledders, skiers, snowmobilers, snowshoers, spelunkers, trappers, walkers and all nonprofit organizations representing these various stakeholders by using the agency’s e-mail list and other methods and providing ongoing education about good landowner relations.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §10108, sub-§4-B is enacted to read:
The commissioner shall seek sponsorship of the Keep Maine Clean program from businesses, groups representing outdoor recreationists and other individuals and groups. The commissioner may accept money, goods or services donated to the department for the program. Money, goods and services accepted by the commissioner under this subsection may be used only for program activities, including providing gifts to program volunteers and promoting and marketing the program.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §10157, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. D, §11, is repealed.
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §10157, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:
(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 of sportsmen;
(5) Two representatives of outdoor recreationists;
(6) Two representatives of environmentalist organizations; and
(7) One representative of land trust organizations.
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §10157, sub-§§2 and 3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §36 and affected by §422, are amended to read:
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §10157, sub-§§5 and 6, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §36 and affected by §422, are amended to read:
Sec. 7. 12 MRSA §10157, sub-§7, ¶E, as amended by PL 2011, c. 208, §2, is further amended to read:
Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §10157, sub-§7, ¶F, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 208, §3, is amended to read:
Sec. 9. 12 MRSA §10157, sub-§7, ¶G is enacted to read:
(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.
Sec. 10. Transition. Current members of the Landowners and Sportsmen Relations Advisory Board that fit within the new membership criteria, as determined by the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, may continue to serve the terms for which they were originally appointed under the former Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 10157, subsection 1.
summary
This bill amends the landowner relations program within the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by adding to the program the requirement that the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife establish an ongoing relationship with various outdoor recreationists and the nonprofit organizations representing these outdoor recreationists, and must provide ongoing education to these groups and individuals about good landowner relations.
The bill gives the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, instead of the Governor, authority to appoint board members for the Landowners and Sportsmen Relations Advisory Board, and it reduces the size and membership of the board and expands the board’s duties to include an annual stakeholder meeting and an annual reporting requirement.
This bill also directs the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish a Keep Maine Clean program to recruit volunteers to pick up trash along roadsides, fields and forests while they are walking, hiking, fishing and otherwise enjoying public and private lands.