An Act To Change the Composition of the Board of Pesticides Control
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1471-B, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 119, §1 and affected by §2 and amended by c. 657, Pt. W, §5, is further amended to read:
1. Board established. The Board of Pesticides Control is established by Title 5, section 12004-D, subsection 3, within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Except as provided in this chapter, the board must be composed of 7 members, appointed by the Governor, subject to approval by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters and confirmation by the Senate. To provide the knowledge and experience necessary for carrying out the duties of the board, the board must consist of the following members: one person with practical experience and knowledge regarding the agricultural use of chemicals; one person who has practical experience and knowledge regarding the use of chemicals in forest management; one person from the medical community; a scientist from the University of Maine System having practical experience and expertise in integrated pest management; one commercial applicator; and 2 persons appointed to represent the public. The 2 members appointed to represent the public must have a demonstrated interest in environmental protection and represent different geographic areas of the State. The term must be for 4 years, except that of the initial appointees, 2 shall serve 4-year terms, 2 shall serve 3-year terms, 2 shall serve 2-year terms and one shall serve serves a one-year term. Any vacancy must be filled by an appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Sec. 2. Application. This Act does not require the terms of members serving on the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Board of Pesticides Control on the effective date of this Act to be terminated.
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This bill restores the requirement that the 2 public members of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Board of Pesticides Control have a demonstrated interest in environmental protection. The change does not require the termination of the terms of current members of the board.