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An Act To Address Decibel Level Limits for Airboats
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §13068-A, sub-§10, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §380 and affected by §422, is amended to read:
 
A. A person may not operate a motorboat in such a manner as to exceed:
 
(1) A noise level of 90 decibels when subjected to a stationary sound level test with and without cutouts engaged and as prescribed by the commissioner; or
 
(2) A noise level of 75 decibels when subjected to an operational test measured with and without cutouts engaged and as prescribed by the commissioner.
 
As used in this paragraph, "motorboat" does not include an "airboat," which has the same meaning as in paragraph A-1.
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §13068-A, sub-§10, ¶A-1  is enacted to read:
 
A-1.  A person may not operate an airboat in such a manner as to exceed noise level limits established by the commissioner by rule. Rules adopted under this paragraph are routine technical rules as described in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. For purposes of this paragraph, "airboat" means a flat-bottomed watercraft propelled by an aircraft-type propeller and powered by either an aircraft engine or an automotive engine.
Sec. 3. Collection of information. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Marine Resources jointly shall solicit and collect information regarding airboats, including, but not limited to, information regarding uses of airboats, noise levels and complaints and suggestions for reducing complaints regarding the use of airboats, from interested parties, including, but not limited to, harbor masters, town clerks and residents of coastal towns and airboat users and sellers. Based on the suggestions, the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Commissioner of Marine Resources may jointly submit recommended legislation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters by February 1, 2021. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters may report out legislation to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature to implement the recommendations. As used in this section, "airboat" means a flat-bottomed watercraft propelled by an aircraft-type propeller and powered by either an aircraft engine or an automotive engine.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, Second Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.