Resolves

Chapter 83

S.P. 712 - L.D. 1912

Resolve, To Develop the Outdoor Licensed Network

Sec. 1. Development and implementation plan for Outdoor Licensed Network. Resolved: That the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, referred to in this resolve as "the department," in consultation with the Department of Conservation shall develop a plan to create and implement the Outdoor Licensed Network, referred to in this resolve as "the network," to acquire, preserve and enhance access to land and inland waters of the State, to ensure coordinated planning for the future use and preservation of access for activities licensed by the department and to provide an effective grassroots system to identify, secure and manage access on an ongoing basis; and be it further

Sec. 2. Plan to establish network sections and districts. Resolved: That the department, in consultation with the Department of Conservation, shall develop a plan to establish and implement 14 network sections and 95 network districts as are designated for the Maine Warden Service. Network districts must be designed to encompass existing fish and game clubs or create new clubs or network committees within each network district. Fish and game clubs or network committees must be utilized for the purpose of identifying, monitoring and prioritizing information on land within each network district that may be available for acquisition or other access for the network and to keep records on current landowner access agreements and to deal with landowner issues. The plan must be designed to allow fish and game clubs or network committees within each network district to apply for grants related to land access. The plan must consider having wardens within corresponding network sections or network districts attend monthly meetings held by the fish and game clubs or network committees to provide and receive information on landowner issues and complaints; and be it further

Sec. 3. Additional considerations. Resolved: That the department, in consultation with the Department of Conservation, in addition to the other requirements of this resolve, shall include in the plan developed pursuant to section 2 the following:

1. A contact for each network district;

2. The establishment of a land and water grant program to which a network district may apply for purposes of the network;

3. The development of software that network districts can use to get information about parcels of land, including, but not limited to, identifying land use and landowners and tracking landowner access permission;

4. The development of a standardized designation of activities within network districts, including, but not limited to, activities related to conservation, forestry, fishery, Maine Warden Service and all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles; and

5. The negotiation of liability insurance for all network districts to include fish and game clubs, all-terrain vehicle clubs and snowmobile clubs that is self-funded through the State; and be it further

Sec. 4. Funding sources. Resolved: That the department, in consultation with the Department of Conservation, shall develop a plan to identify and secure funding sources for the purposes of the network, including, but not limited to, all license, permit and registration fees administered by the department; and be it further

Sec. 5. Network Advisory Council. Resolved: That the department in consultation with the Department of Conservation shall develop a plan to establish and implement the Network Advisory Council with membership representing each of the network sections to at a minimum:

1. Provide grants from a network fund;

2. Aid fish and game clubs or network committees with the start-up process;

3. Implement agreements in network sections or network districts;

4. Establish or attend meetings within the network sections or network districts including at least a quarterly meeting for all outdoor licensed activity groups within each section that can also be attended by a sergeant from the Maine Warden Service; and

5. Work on large-scale land access agreements or acquisitions; and be it further

Sec. 6. Consultation with the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Resolved: That the department shall provide update reports to and consult with the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at that committee's authorized meetings before the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature regarding the subject matter of this resolve; and be it further

Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That the department shall report back its findings and recommendations including suggested legislation to implement its recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife no later than January 15, 2008. The Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife may submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature pertaining to the findings and recommendations of the department's report.