CHAPTER 358
H.P. 954 - L.D. 1368
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §8005 is enacted to read:
§8005. Certain information confidential
1. Contact information. Social security numbers, addresses, telephone numbers and electronic mail addresses of landowners owning less than 1,000 acres of forest land statewide and collected by the bureau for the purposes of contacting landowners under section 8611, or received by the bureau in notifications filed under section 8883-B, or in reports received under Title 36, section 581-G are confidential and may be disclosed only in accordance with this section.
2. Forest management plan and information. Social security numbers, forest management plans and supporting documentation of forest management activities on private forest land and held by the bureau for the purposes of administering landowner assistance programs authorized under this chapter and chapter 805 are confidential and may be disclosed only in accordance with this section.
3. Disclosure. Except as provided in subsection 4, the director may disclose confidential information in accordance with this subsection. Confidential information disclosed pursuant to this subsection remains the property of the bureau. Recipients of the confidential information may not disclose this information or use this information except as authorized by the director.
A. The director may disclose information designated as confidential under this section to a governmental entity that, in the opinion of the director, requires this information.
B. The director shall provide names, addresses and electronic mail addresses upon request to a nonprofit corporation that provides educational services to forest landowners regarding sound forest management as long as the information disclosed is used to provide information about forest management.
4. Information designated as confidential by state or federal agency. The director may not disclose information furnished to the director that has been designated as confidential by a state or federal agency furnishing the information unless disclosure is authorized by the furnishing agency.
5. Penalty. A person who receives confidential information pursuant to subsection 3, paragraph B and uses that information for a purpose other than that authorized by the director commits a civil violation punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §8611, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2003, c. 346, §1, is further amended to read:
1. Forest management information. The bureau shall provide a forest management information clearinghouse service with a statewide toll-free number. The information and referral service must include, but is not limited to:
A. Reporting, notification and management requirements pursuant to this chapter;
B. Timber and forest management options;
C. Soil conservation practices;
D. Insect and disease management practices;
E. Recreation management options; and
F. Wildlife management options.
Names, addresses Addresses, telephone numbers and electronic mail addresses collected by the bureau for the purpose of contacting forest landowners owning less than 1,000 acres statewide to provide them with forest management information are not a public record for the purposes of Title 1, section 402, subsection 3 confidential and may be disclosed only in accordance with section 8005. The bureau shall provide copies of forest management information sent to landowners to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation and forestry matters.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §8883-B, sub-§8 is enacted to read:
8. Confidentiality. The addresses, telephone numbers and electronic mail addresses of forest landowners owning less than 1,000 acres statewide contained in notifications filed under this section are confidential and may be disclosed only in accordance with section 8005.
Sec. 4. 36 MRSA §581-E, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 555, §18, is repealed.
Sec. 5. 36 MRSA §581-G is enacted to read:
§581-G. Report to Bureau of Forestry
1. Municipal report. The municipal assessor or chief assessor of a primary assessing area shall report annually to the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Forestry by November 1st or 30 days following the tax commitment date, whichever is sooner, the following information relating to land taxed according to this subchapter:
A. The names and addresses of forest landowners;
B. The total number of acres taxed pursuant to this subchapter, including a breakdown of forest type, by softwood, mixed wood and hardwood;
C. The year each parcel was first accepted for taxation under this subchapter;
D. The year of the most recent recertification of each parcel; and
E. The tax map number, plan number and lot number for each parcel listed.
2. Forms. The Department of Conservation, Bureau of Forestry shall annually provide municipalities with forms for submitting the information required under subsection 1. To the extent that the bureau has the required information, the bureau shall include that information on the forms.
3. Confidentiality. Addresses, telephone numbers and electronic mail addresses of forest landowners owning less than 1,000 acres statewide contained in reports filed under this section are confidential when in possession of the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Forestry and may be disclosed only in accordance with Title 12, section 8005.
Effective September 17, 2005.
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