An Act To Protect the Health and Safety of Maine State Park Visitors and Staff
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1804, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2001, c. 604, §4; PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7; and PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24, is further amended to read:
5. Bureau budget. Prepare and submit to the commissioner the budget for the bureau; and
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §1804, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 604, §5 and amended by PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 and PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24, is further amended to read:
6. Restrictions on public access. Post notice of any restrictions to public access at points commonly used to access the land or at a facility or structure where such rules and notices are regularly posted. The director may restrict public access to any portion of the land or waters within the bureau's jurisdiction when the restrictions reasonably relate to protecting public health, safety or welfare or the economic interests or natural resources of the State . ; and
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §1804, sub-§7 is enacted to read:
7. Minimum staffing levels. Determine minimum levels of staffing for all state parks, except Baxter State Park, and historic sites and national parks that are controlled and managed by the State. When making a determination of staffing levels under this subsection, the director shall consider for each park and historic site the following:
A. Visitor capacity limits;
B. Historical data regarding visitor use;
C. Availability of local emergency response services;
D. If local emergency response services are used, response time of emergency response;
E. Distance to medical services;
F. Communication capacity of staff to summon emergency response services or assistance;
G. Relative to emergency response, training and authority levels of staff;
H. Emergency planning issues specific to a park or historic site;
I. Historical record of emergency response incidents and near misses; and
J. Historical record of severe weather emergencies.
For purposes of this subsection, historical data must include 10 years of data at a minimum.
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.