5.__Meetings.__The council shall meet at least 3 times per year and as often as it considers necessary to perform its duties.__The members shall hold an initial meeting at which they shall elect a chair, vice-chair and secretary and assign their duties and duties to other members as appropriate.__Meetings must be open to the public and allow for public participation.__Notice of all meetings must be mailed at least 10 days before each meeting to those interested parties who have requested notice.__ The public must be notified by a newspaper of general circulation at least 14 days before all meetings.

Sec. 2. Staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 8876-B, subsection 3, members of the Maine Forest Certification Council serve staggered 3-year terms. In order to implement the staggering of terms, the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each initially appoint one member for a 2- year term, 2 members for 3-year terms and one member for a 4-year term. Thereafter, all members, whether newly appointed or renewed, are appointed for a term of 3 years.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes the Maine Forest Certification Council, consisting of members appointed by the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to review and report upon the value of the use of 3rd-party certification in achieving forest sustainability as established by the Maine Council on Sustainable Forest Management. The council in conducting its review and generating its report must rely solely upon 3rd-party certification audits and other existing and available information. The council has no authority to establish sustainability standards of its own. Instead, it must rely exclusively on the goals, criteria and standards previously established by the Maine Council on Sustainable Forest Management. The council must report its findings annually to the Governor and to the Legislature.