CHAPTER 549

H.P. 1304 - L.D. 1782

An Act To Ensure Fair Payment for Timber Harvesting Jobs on

Land Managed by the Department of Conservation, Bureau of

Parks and Lands

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

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1834, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 678, §13, is amended to read:

2. Grant of permits. The bureau may grant permits and enter into contracts to cut timber, harvest grass and wild foods, tap maple trees for sap and cultivate and harvest crops provided that those permits and contract rights create revocable licenses to the permittee or party to the contract and do not create any real property interest in the nonreserved public lands. Permits and contracts for the harvesting of timber from the nonreserved public lands must include a provision requiring that persons engaged in timber harvesting on the nonreserved public lands be compensated at rates not less than the most recently issued prevailing wage and piece rates and equipment allowances for the pulpwood and logging industry as determined by the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards.

If the Department of Labor does not determine a prevailing wage or piece rate for a timber harvesting occupation or an equipment allowance for a type of harvesting equipment, the director may establish those rates by referring to prevailing rates and allowances in the industry for that occupation or type of equipment.__Any rates or allowances established by the director under this subsection apply only to permits and contracts on nonreserved public lands governed by this section.