Chapter 606
H.P. 1422 - L.D. 2038
PART A
Sec. A-1. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§57-G  is enacted to read:
57-G.Â
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| Marine Resources |
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Shellfish Advisory Council |
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Expenses Only |
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12 MRSA §6038 |
Sec. A-2. 12 MRSA §6038  is enacted to read:
1. Appointment; composition.
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The Shellfish Advisory Council, referred to in this section as "the council" and established by Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 57-G, consists of 13 members who are appointed by the commissioner as follows: A. Four members who are commercial shellfish license holders, at least 3 of whom must be primarily soft-shell clam harvesters. In making the appointments under this paragraph, the commissioner shall consider up to 6 recommendations from associations representing the interests of persons who harvest shellfish commercially;
B. Two members who are shellfish aquaculture lease holders. In making the appointments under this paragraph, the commissioner shall consider up to 3 recommendations from associations representing the interests of persons who raise shellfish under aquaculture leases;
C. One member who represents the interests of municipalities with wastewater treatment systems;
D. Two members who are licensed wholesale seafood dealers who have been issued a shellfish sanitation certificate pursuant to section 6856, subsection 1. In making the appointments under this paragraph, the commissioner shall consider up to 3 recommendations from associations representing the interests of persons who buy and sell shellfish;
E. One public member with knowledge of and interest in coastal water quality;
F. Two members who are municipal shellfish wardens. In making the appointments under this paragraph, the commissioner shall solicit and consider up to 3 recommendations for these 2 appointments from associations representing the interests of persons who protect and help manage municipal shellfish resources; and
G. One member who has been issued a shellfish depuration certificate under section 6856, subsection 3.
The commissioner shall make appointments so that the composition of the council reflects a geographic distribution along the coast of the State.
2. Purpose.
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The council shall make recommendations to the commissioner and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters concerning: A. How best to utilize state agencies, municipal governments, the shellfish industry and citizen groups to make improvements to and maintain the quality of the State's coastal waters and to expedite the opening of closed shellfish flats; and
B. Matters of interest to the State's shellfish industry, including, but not limited to, shellfish resource management, public health protection and the activities and recommendations of a multistate organization that promotes shellfish sanitation.
The council is responsible for bringing forward to the commissioner matters of concern to the shellfish industry and for assisting the commissioner with the dissemination of information to members of the shellfish industry.
3. Term.
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The term of a member appointed to the council is 3 years, except that a vacancy during an unexpired term must be filled in the same manner as for the original member for the unexpired portion of the member's term. A member may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms.
4. Officers.
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The officers of the council are the chair, vice-chair and secretary. The term of the officers is one year. The council shall elect a member of the council for each officer position at the first regular meeting of each year.
5. Meeting.
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The council shall meet at least once a year. It may also meet at other times at the call of the chair or the commissioner. In advance of a meeting of a multistate organization that promotes shellfish sanitation, the council shall meet to discuss matters of interest to the shellfish industry, the department and the multistate organization and to make recommendations as necessary.
6. Compensation.
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Council members are entitled to expenses according to Title 5, chapter 379, which are paid from the Shellfish Fund established in section 6651.
Sec. A-3. 12 MRSA §6651, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 1987, c. 328, §2, is further amended to read:
2. Uses of fund.
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The commissioner may expend the money in the Shellfish Fund for management, enforcement, restoration, development and conservation of shellfish and mussels in the intertidal zone or coastal waters and for the costs associated with the Shellfish Advisory Council established by Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 57-G.
Sec. A-4. Shellfish Advisory Council; staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 6038, subsection 3, the Commissioner of Marine Resources for the original appointment of members to the Shellfish Advisory Council shall designate the first 3 appointments for one-year terms, the next 4 appointments for 2-year terms and any other appointments for 3-year terms. An initial term of one or 2 years may not be considered a full term for purposes of limiting the number of terms for which a member may serve.