Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of task force. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. Within 15 days after appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the task force; and be it further

Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall:

1. Identify and investigate problems facing persons who hold Maine lobster and crab fishing licenses who fish for lobsters in federal waters, with particular attention to issues related to fishing in federal Offshore Lobster Management Area 3, as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service;

2. Review the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster and federal and state law and rules and regulations relevant to commercial lobster fishing in offshore waters;

3. Invite public comments and testimony regarding the subject of commercial lobster fishing in offshore waters; and

4. Develop recommendations, including suggested legislation, to address identified problems; and be it further

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That, upon approval of the Legislative Council, the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force; and be it further

Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: That the legislative members of the task force are entitled to receive the legislative per diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses related to their attendance at authorized meetings of the task force. Public members not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities that they represent are entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses and, upon a demonstration of financial hardship, a per diem equal to the legislative per diem for their attendance at authorized meetings of the task force; and be it further