Sec. 1. 26 MRSA c. 7, sub-c. 2-A is enacted to read:

SUBCHAPTER 2-A

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS IN THE FORESTRY INDUSTRY

§641.__Rule of construction

This subchapter must be liberally construed in light of the purposes of the law to ensure safe working and living environments and transportation for forestry workers and__to prevent unfair competition in the marketplace by businesses whose practices would undermine safety and other employment standards.

§642. Definitions

As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings:

1.__Code of Federal Regulations.__"Code of Federal Regulations" means the Code of Federal Regulations as of January 1, 2003.

2.__Forestry worker.__"Forestry worker" or "worker" means a person employed on a temporary or seasonal basis to perform reforestation activities, including, but not limited to, precommercial thinning, tree planting, brush clearing, herbaceous weed control and all related activities.

3.__Employer.__"Employer" includes:

A.__A person or entity that directly or indirectly recruits, solicits, hires, employs, furnishes or transports any forestry worker;

B.__A person or entity that directly or indirectly employs any forestry worker or that directly or indirectly suffers or permits any forestry worker to work;

C. A person or entity that owns, leases or manages land on which any forestry worker is employed by any employer; and

D.__A person or entity that enters into a contractual or other business relationship with any other person or entity regarding or resulting in the employment of any forestry worker.