Resolve, To Establish a Task Force To Study the Current Status and Future Sustainability of Aquaculture in the State

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this resolve establishes the Task Force To Study the Current Status and Future Sustainability of Aquaculture in the State; and

Whereas,  the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that the initial report may be submitted by September 1, 2019 and the study may be completed and a final report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative session; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: That the Task Force To Study the Current Status and Future Sustainability of Aquaculture in the State, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," is established.

Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the task force consists of 17 members appointed as follows:

1. Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including a member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;

2. Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, including a member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;

3. Five members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:

4. Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows:

5. Three members appointed by the Governor as follows:

Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the task force.

Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of task force. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the task force. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the task force to meet and conduct its business.

Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall meet at least 6 times and shall review the report from the Governor's Task Force on the Planning and Development of Marine Aquaculture in Maine dated January 30, 2004 and assess the status of the recommendations in that report. The task force shall also:

1. Assess the current status of aquaculture in the State, including the number, increase and distribution of leases and licenses;

2. Assess current production levels and production capacity;

3. Assess environmental effects and the carrying capacity of the coastal marine environment;

4. Identify aquaculture best practices;

5. Review relationships with other fisheries;

6. Identify current economic and workforce effects, including but not limited to diversification of the current workforce and workforce needs;

7. Identify future opportunities; and

8. Explore current and proposed community outreach and education.

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Department of Marine Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force.

Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That the task force shall submit an interim report no later than September 1, 2019 and a final report no later than December 11, 2019 that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources and the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, which may each submit legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature. The task force shall make the interim and final reports available on the publicly accessible websites of the Department of Marine Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This resolve establishes the Task Force To Study the Current Status and Future Sustainability of Aquaculture in the State. The task force membership consists of Legislators, representatives of entities knowledgeable about or involved in aquaculture and representatives of state agencies, associations and commercial fisheries. The task force's duties include a review of the report from the Governor's Task Force on the Planning and Development of Marine Aquaculture in Maine dated January 30, 2004 and an assessment of the current status of aquaculture in the State, current production levels and production capacity and environmental effects and the carrying capacity of the coastal marine environment, as well as an examination of aquaculture best practices, relationships with other fisheries, current economic and workforce effects, future opportunities and current and proposed community outreach and education. The task force is required to submit an interim report no later than September 1, 2019 and a final report no later than December 11, 2019 to the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources and the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, which may each submit legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.