An Act To Prevent the Infestation of Firewood by Invasive Species

Sec. 1. 7 MRSA c. 417  is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 417

FIREWOOD

§ 2441.  Firewood emergency response group

The commissioner shall establish a firewood emergency response group to respond to reports of infestation of firewood by invasive species. Membership in the firewood emergency response group may include forest rangers, public and private foresters, entomologists, landowners, municipal officials and law enforcement officials as the commissioner determines appropriate. At least once a year the firewood emergency response group shall conduct a training exercise to prepare for an infestation incident involving firewood.

§ 2442.  Firewood Infestation Education Fund

The Firewood Infestation Education Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established. The fund is a nonlapsing fund administered by the department for the purposes of educating the public and promoting public awareness of the dangers of infestation of invasive species through the importation of firewood into the State, which may include Internet marketing, mapping resources and tools for landowners. Money in the fund consists of appropriations or allocations for the purpose of the fund and any other money, including federal money and other public and private contributions, deposited into the fund. Income from investment of the fund must be deposited to the credit of the fund.

summary

This bill directs the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to create a firewood emergency response group to respond to reports of infestation of firewood by invasive species and creates the Firewood Infestation Education Fund to educate the public regarding and promote public awareness of the dangers of infestation through the importation of firewood into the State.