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An Act To Establish the Seaweed Advisory Council and To Enhance the Management of the Seaweed Fishery
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§57-H  is enacted to read:
 
57-H.     
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §6087  is enacted to read:
§ 6087. Seaweed Advisory Council
 
1.  Appointment; composition.     The Seaweed Advisory Council, established by Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 57-H and referred to in this section as "the council," consists of 5 members appointed by the commissioner as follows:
 
A.  Two members who each hold either a seaweed permit or seaweed buyer's license;
 
B.  Two members who are seaweed aquaculture lease holders; and
 
C.  One member of the scientific community.
 
The commissioner shall make appointments so that the composition of the council reflects the diversity of the State's seaweed operations.
 
2.  Purpose.     The council shall:
 
A.  Make recommendations to the commissioner and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters on all matters concerning the health of the seaweed resource, its ecosystem and the industry it supports.
 
B.  Make recommendations to the commissioner regarding expenditures from the Seaweed Management Fund as described in section 6806.
 
3.  Term.     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.     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.     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.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §6806, sub-§3, as reallocated by RR 1999, c. 1, §18, is amended to read:
 
3. Plan required.   Beginning in calendar year 20002018, the commissioner shall by May 1st of each year present a plan for expenditures from the fund for the next fiscal year to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resource matters. When developing the plan, the commissioner shall consult with harvesters and seaweed dealersthe Seaweed Advisory Council established in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 57-H.
Sec. 4. Staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 6087, subsection 3, of the initial appointments of the Seaweed Advisory Council, the Commissioner of Marine Resources shall designate the first 2 appointments for 2-year terms and the next 3 appointments for 3-year terms. An initial term of 2 years may not be considered a full term for purposes of limiting the number of terms for which a member may serve.
 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Seaweed Advisory Council to advise the Commissioner of Marine Resources and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters on matters of interest to the State's seaweed industry.