‘Sec. A-2. Contingent effective date. That section of this Part that enacts the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12-A takes effect October 1, 2013 only if the bill submitted to the 126th Legislature pursuant to Part B, section 5 implementing the consolidation of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources and the Department of Conservation has been enacted into law by that date.’

PART B

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Sec. B-1. Development of plan. The Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources and the Commissioner of Conservation shall develop a plan to implement the consolidation of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources and the Department of Conservation into the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. In developing the plan, the commissioners shall address issues including administrative structure and functions and program and service delivery functions of the proposed consolidated department. The commissioners shall discuss the following topics and bring recommendations on each topic to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry during interim meetings authorized under section 2.

1. Placement of the Bureau of Parks and Lands as a division within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. The commissioners shall examine the functions of the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands and determine if any functions are more appropriately aligned within another state agency.

2. Law enforcement responsibilities of forest rangers. The commissioners shall examine the historical role of forest rangers within the forest protection division within the Department of Conservation, Maine Forest Service and how the duties of forest rangers might be expanded to meet the more comprehensive enforcement needs of the new department. The commissioners shall consider the possibility of forest rangers investigating and enforcing animal welfare laws under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, Part 9.

3. Recommendations of the natural resources agency task force convened pursuant to Public Law 2007, chapter 539, Part YY. The commissioners shall review the 8 specific recommendations for improving services in the State's natural resources sector that were included in the report of the task force convened pursuant to Public Law 2007, chapter 539, Part YY dated 2008 and submitted to the Governor with a transmittal letter dated January 8, 2009. The commissioners shall determine what actions have been taken to implement these recommendations and provide the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry with a description of how these recommendations have been implemented or will be addressed with the merger of the 2 departments.

4. Rulemaking. The commissioners shall identify existing rule-making authority in statute for each of the proposed divisions and the need for additional rule-making authority under the new structure. The commissioners shall seek the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's input in designating rules as major substantive or routine technical under Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A prior to submitting legislation under section 5.

Sec. B-2. Interim meetings authorized. The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is authorized to meet during the 2012 legislative interim to hear reports regarding the development of the plan required pursuant to section 1. At these meetings, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources and the Commissioner of Conservation shall brief the committee on issues including administrative structure and functions and program and service delivery functions of the proposed consolidated department. The committee shall provide opportunities for stakeholders to communicate with the commissioners regarding the consolidation. The committee shall work with the commissioners to develop a mission statement and guiding principles for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Sec. B-3. Budget. The Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of the Budget shall work with the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources and the Commissioner of Conservation with regard to the duties transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry as set forth in this Act to develop the budget for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry in conjunction with the Natural Resources Service Center of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services.

Sec. B-4. Federal approval. If the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources or the Commissioner of Conservation determines that federal approval will not be obtained for any part of this Act that requires federal approval, the commissioners shall notify the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation and forestry matters, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and the Executive Director of the Legislative Council.

Sec. B-5. Legislation. The Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources and the Commissioner of Conservation shall review those parts of the Maine Revised Statutes governing agriculture, food safety, weights and measures, forestry and conservation issues, including, but not limited to, Titles 7, 8, 10, 12, 12-A and 22. Based upon their review, the commissioners shall develop and submit by November 15, 2012 a bill for introduction to the First Regular Session of the 126th Legislature to consolidate existing law appropriate for inclusion into Title 12-A and to correct any errors and inconsistencies in the law that result from this Act.’