Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §2601, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1975, c. 751, §4, is amended to read:

5. Operator. "Operator" means the individual who has direct management responsibility for the routine supervision and operation of a public water system or of a water treatment plant or collection, treatment, storage or distribution facility or structure that is a part of a system an individual either employed or retained by a public water system who, as part of the individual's job duties, is assigned the responsibilities for operational activities that will have a direct impact on the quality or quantity of water provided to consumers. Shift operators or other employees under the supervision of the operator in the performance of their duties are not operators.

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §2621, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:

1-A.__Board.__"Board" means the Board of Licensure of Water Treatment Plant Operators.

Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §2622, first ¶, as amended by PL 1997, c. 705, §11, is further amended to read:

The board, with the advice of the department, shall classify all community public water systems, all noncommunity nontransient water systems and the water treatment plants or collection, treatment or storage facilities or structures that are part of a system with due regard to the size and type of facilities, the character of water to be treated and any other physical conditions affecting such system or part thereof and specify the qualifications the operator of the system or of a part of a system must have to supervise successfully the operation of the system or parts thereof so as to protect the public health or prevent nuisance conditions.

Sec. 4. 22 MRSA §2624-A, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 442, §2, is amended to read:

1. Membership; general qualifications. The board consists of 7 9 members appointed by the Governor as follows: 3 water system or water treatment plant operators, one holding a Class II license, one holding a Class III license and one holding a Class IV license; one member of the public who is a registered professional engineer; one person who is an educator in the field of water supply or service; one person who is a water utility management representative; one person who represents consumers of public water systems; one person who is an owner or manager of a noncommunity nontransient public water system; and one person