PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
Amend the amendment by striking out the substitute title and replacing it with the following:
‘Resolve, To Establish a Task Force To Examine Agricultural Issues’
Amend the amendment by striking out all of sections 1 and 2 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1 Task force established. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the Task Force To Examine Agricultural Issues, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," is established; and be it further
Sec. 2 Task force membership. Resolved: That the task force consists of 15 members appointed as follows:
1. Two members representing value-added manufacturers, recommended by the Maine Potato Board and the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine, one member appointed by the President of the Senate and one member appointed by the Speaker of the House;
2. A farmer representing the wild blueberry industry, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
3. A farmer representing the dairy industry, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
4. A farmer representing the potato industry, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
5. A farmer representing the aquaculture industry, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
6. A farmer representing the interests of the small fruit or vegetable growers, appointed by the President of the Senate;
7. A farmer appointed by the Agricultural Council of Maine, appointed by the President of the Senate;
8. A farmer appointed by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, appointed by the President of the Senate;
9. A contractor or owner representing the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
10. A member of Maine Woodland Owners, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
11. A member of the Maine Farm Bureau, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
12. A member representing a national food retailer, appointed by the President of the Senate;
13. A member with expertise in international trade policy, appointed by the President of the Senate; and
14. An economist from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service or, if an economist from the service is unavailable, an economist from the University of Maine System, appointed by the President of the Senate; and be it further
Sec. 3 Appointments. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed; and be it further
Sec. 4 Chair; convening of initial meeting. Resolved: That the economist from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service or the economist from the University of Maine System serves as chair of the task force. If no economist from the University of Maine System is available, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall designate another member of the task force to serve as chair. The chair shall convene the initial meeting of the task force no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve; and be it further’
Amend the amendment in section 3 in the first line (page 2, line 14 in amendment) by striking out the following: "departmental"
Amend the amendment by striking out all of sections 4 and 5 (page 2, lines 26 to 36 in amendment) and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 4 Meetings. Resolved: That the chair shall schedule meetings of the task force as necessary to complete the task force's assigned duties. The task force shall notify members of the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation and forestry matters and other Legislators with a known interest in agricultural issues of all meetings of the task force; and be it further
Sec. 5 Staffing, funding and compensation. Resolved: That the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall provide staff support to the task force from existing resources. The commissioner may use contributions of money, services and supplies accepted under existing authority to support the work of the task force. Members of the task force are not entitled to reimbursement for their expenses; and be it further’
Amend the amendment in section 6 in the first line (page 2, line 37 in amendment) by striking out the following: "commissioner" and inserting the following: 'Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry'
Amend the amendment in section 6 in the 4th line (page 2, line 40 in amendment) by striking out the following: "departmental"
Amend the amendment in section 6 in the 5th line (page 3, line 1 in amendment) by striking out the following: "departmental"
Amend the amendment in section 7 in the first line (page 3, line 3 in amendment) by striking out the following: "departmental"
Amend the amendment in section 8 in the 3rd line (page 3, line 10 in amendment) by striking out the following: "section 7" and inserting the following: 'section 9'
Amend the amendment by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment amends Committee Amendment "A" by removing the requirement that the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry convene a departmental task force and invite representatives to participate in the task force. Instead, the amendment establishes the Task Force To Examine Agricultural Issues and gives appointing authority to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The amendment does not change the membership of the task force and it provides that members of the task force are not entitled to reimbursement for their expenses.