CHAPTER 124
H.P. 1400 - L.D. 2005
Resolve, to Establish the Round Table to Study Economic and Labor Issues Relating to the Forest Products Industry
Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the forest products industry is an integral part of the Maine rural economy and key economic and labor issues must be reviewed to keep the industry competitive; 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. Round table established. Resolved: That the Round Table to Study Economic and Labor Issues Relating to the Forest Products Industry, referred to in this resolve as the "round table," is established; and be it further
Sec. 2. Round table membership. Resolved: That the round table consists of 19 members appointed or designated as follows.
1. The Speaker of the House shall appoint 8 members as follows:
A. One landowner of less than 1,000 acres in the State;
B. One sociologist with expertise in rural issues;
C. One independent logger from a region of the State impacted by the H2-A Bonded Labor Program;
D. One economist with forestry expertise;
E. One owner or representative of a large sawmill;
F. One owner or representative of a small sawmill; and
G. Two members who at the time of appointment are members of the House of Representatives and serve on either the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry or the Joint Standing Committee on Labor or who have experience in a forest-based industry. Appointments of House members must include at least one member of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and at least one member of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the House.
2. The President of the Senate shall appoint 8 members as follows:
A. One municipal or county official with expertise in tree growth tax issues and the administration of the tree growth tax law;
B. One representative of a paper company;
C. One logger residing in southern Maine;
D. One logging contractor residing and operating in northern Maine;
E. One landowner or representative of a landowner owning more than 1,000 acres in the State;
F. One representative of an environmental organization working on forestry issues; and
G. Two members who at the time of appointment are members of the Senate and serve on either the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry or the Joint Standing Committee on Labor or who have experience in a forest-based industry. Appointments of Senate members must include at least one member of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and at least one member who is not a member of the party holding the largest number of seats in the Senate.
3. The following 3 members shall also serve as voting members of the round table:
A. The Commissioner of Conservation or the commissioner's designee;
B. The Commissioner of Labor or the commissioner's designee; and
C. The Dean of the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture, University of Maine or the dean's designee; and be it further
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first Senate member named is the Senate chair of the round table and the first House member named is the House chair of the round table; and be it further
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening round table. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The Executive Director of the Legislative Council must be notified by the appointing authorities once the selections have been made. The chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the round table within 30 days of completion of all appointments; and be it further
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the round table shall:
1. Study key economic and labor issues related to the forest products industry with the goals of helping to keep more value-added wood processing in the State and make logging a more respected and more attractive profession, thus benefiting the rural Maine economy. Issues studied must include:
A. An assessment of the import and export of roundwood and other wood products as determined by the round table; the market forces and government policies in Maine, the United States and other countries that impact this trade; the status of value-added manufacturing; and the relationship of these issues to employment in Maine;
B. An evaluation of trends in logging, including changes in mechanization, logger training and education, workers' compensation and insurance, employment relationships, types of wood measurement and means of payment; and
C. An assessment of regional variations in and seasonal capacity of the logging labor force in Maine, policies both within Maine and in nearby Canadian provinces and factors, including current and projected resource availability, transportation costs, market forces and imperfections and geographic locations, that might impact wage and employment opportunities for Maine workers;
2. Assess problems within its area of study and develop recommendations. In developing its recommendations, the round table shall consider the impact of these recommendations on the competitive position of Maine's forest-based industry and on any specific segment of the industry and consistencies and inconsistencies with state and federal policy; and
3. Provide public notice of all of its meetings. The round table shall issue a report of its findings and may make recommendations for policy changes. The round table shall advertise a public meeting to invite comment on its findings before submitting a final report to the Legislature; and be it further
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That upon approval of the Legislative Council the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall provide staffing services to the round table. The Department of Labor and the Maine Forest Service within the Department of Conservation shall also provide assistance as requested by the round table; and be it further
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: That those members of the round table who are Legislators are entitled to receive legislative per diem as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2 and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses related to their attendance at meetings of the round table; and be it further
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: That the round table shall submit its report, together with any recommended implementing legislation, to the 120th Legislature no later than December 5, 2001. If the round table requires an extension of time to make its report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant the extension; and be it further
Sec. 9. Budget. Resolved: That the chairs of the round table, with assistance from the round table staff, shall administer the round table's budget. Within 10 days after its first meeting, the round table shall present a work plan and proposed budget to the Legislative Council for approval. The round table may not incur expenses that would result in the round table's exceeding its approved budget. Upon request from the round table, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council shall promptly provide the round table chairs and staff with a status report on the round table's budget, expenditures incurred and paid and available funds; and be it further
Sec. 10. Appropriation. Resolved: That the following funds are appropriated from the General Fund to carry out the purposes of this resolve.
2000-01
LEGISLATURE
Round Table to Study Economic and Labor Issues Relating to the Forest Products Industry
Personal Services $880
All Other 2,800
Provides funds for the per diem and expenses of legislative members of the Round Table to Study Economic and Labor Issues Relating to the Forest Products Industry and for public meeting notices.
LEGISLATURE ____________
TOTAL $3,680
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.
Effective May 8, 2000.
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