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An Act Relating to the Unlawful Cutting of Trees
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §8869-A  is enacted to read:
§ 8869-A. Prior division approval for harvesting trees and authority to issue stop-work orders
The division shall establish a prior approval process for harvesting trees by a person that has committed 2 violations of unlawful cutting of trees pursuant to Title 17, section 2510, subsection 1. The process must include at a minimum the following:
 
1.  Written approval.     Requiring written approval from the division for the person to harvest trees on any land in the State; and
 
2.  Bonding.     Requiring the person to post a private bond in an amount not less than $500,000 before commencing tree harvesting.
The division shall issue a stop-work order if the requirements of this section are not met at the time harvesting is occurring.
For the purposes of this section, "person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, association or any other legal entity.
The Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Forest Policy and Management - Division of 0240
 
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for rule-making costs.

GENERAL FUND	2013-14	2014-15	
All Other	$3,700	$0	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$3,700	$0	

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 126th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.