Whereas, current law allows municipalities to submit recommendations by October 30, 1999 to the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for regulating the use, operations and type of watercraft on great ponds within the jurisdiction of those municipalities; and

Whereas, if a great pond borders on more than one municipality or lands within the jurisdiction of the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission, the approval of the commission or the legislative bodies of all municipalities in which those waters are located is required; and

Whereas, more time is needed by the municipalities in order to competently submit their recommendations; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. PL 1997, c. 739, §17, 2nd ¶ is amended to read:

The commissioner shall submit a report to the First Regular Session of the 119th Legislature by January 15, 1999 on the recommendations received from municipalities prior to November 1, 1998 and shall submit a report to the Second First Regular Session of the 119th 120th Legislature on the recommendations received from municipalities between November 1, 1998 and October 30, 1999 2000. Each report must be accompanied by legislation implementing the municipal recommendations supported by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. That legislation may also include recommendations of the department, developed using the criteria in this section, for waters not addressed in the municipal proposals.

Sec. 2. Retroactivity. This Act applies retroactively to October 30, 1999.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.