4.__Coordinators.__The commissioner and the Director of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension shall each appoint one member of the council to serve as a cocoordinator of the council.

5.__Duties; responsibilities.__The council shall facilitate, promote, expand and enhance integrated pest management adoption in all sectors of pesticide use and pest management within the State.__Specifically, the council shall:

A.__Identify long-term and short-term priorities for integrated pest management research, education, demonstration and implementation;

B.__Serve as a communication link for the development of coordinated multidisciplinary partnerships among researchers, educators, regulators, policymakers and integrated pest management users;

C.__Identify funding sources and cooperate on obtaining new funding for on-site trials, education and training programs and other efforts to meet identified goals for expanding, advancing and implementing integrated pest management;

D.__Establish measurable goals for expansion of integrated pest management into new sectors and advancing the level of integrated pest management adoption in sectors where integrated pest management is already practiced; and

E.__Cooperate with appropriate organizations to establish protocols for measuring and documenting integrated pest management adoption in the State.

6.__Report.__The council shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters annually on all of the council's activities during the year.

§2405.__Integrated Pest Management Fund

There is created a dedicated, nonlapsing Integrated Pest Management Fund.__The commissioner shall credit funds from any source to the Integrated Pest Management Fund for the purpose of developing and implementing integrated pest management programs.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes the Integrated Pest Management Council to facilitate, promote, expand and enhance the adoption of integrated pest management in the State.