| | | 1. Undertake a comprehensive effort to collect and analyze | | all existing data regarding the amount and type of fuel purchased | | for and consumed within this State by snowmobiles, all-terrain | | vehicles and motorboats and of fuel purchased in this State for | | those vehicles and consumed outside the jurisdiction of this | | State. The commission shall identify areas where such | | information is either incomplete or out of date or has not yet | | been collected and shall undertake such research as is necessary | | and within its resources to collect and update that information; |
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| | | 2. Based upon an analysis of the data collected under | | subsection 1, determine the percentage of gasoline taxes | | collected under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section | | 2903 that is paid on gasoline consumed by snowmobiles, all- | | terrain vehicles and motorboats; |
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| | | 3. Assess the needs within the Department of Inland Fisheries | | and Wildlife, the Department of Conservation and the Department | | of Marine Resources for enforcement of existing snowmobile, all- | | terrain vehicle and watercraft laws; assess the capital needs for | | equipment or facilities for maintenance of trails or access to | | land or water; and determine how existing revenue allocated for | | snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle and watercraft programs is being | | used by those departments; |
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| | | 4. Seek input from the public; from organizations | | representing snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle and watercraft | | users, including the Maine Snowmobile Association, groups | | representing all-terrain vehicle users, the University of Maine | | Agricultural Research Station and the Maine Marine Trade | | Association; and from any other interested individuals or | | organizations. In seeking that input, the commission shall, | | within its budgeted resources, hold its meetings in | | geographically diverse locations throughout the State; |
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| | | 5. Review a strategic boating plan developed by the | | Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of | | Conservation and the Department of Marine Resources. Those | | departments jointly shall prepare and submit to the commission a | | strategic boating plan that includes a plan for meeting the | | future freshwater and saltwater access and enforcement needs of | | the State. Development of that strategic boating plan must | | include a review of the existing distribution of and limits on | | funds allocated under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, | | section 2903-A, a budget detailing the costs to each department | | to meet the goals of the plan and recommendations for changes to | | the law that are needed to implement the plan. The commission | | shall review the strategic boating plan and those recommendations | | and may include in its report any legislation it considers | | necessary to implement the plan; and |
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