Maine § 2002. - Definitions

§ 2002.. Definitions

As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.   [PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. SS, §16 (NEW).]

1.  Association.  "Association" means an organization:

A. Whose membership is identifiable by regular payment of organizational dues and regularly maintained membership lists;   [PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. SS, §16 (NEW).]

B. That is registered with the State or is a corporation in the State; and   [PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. SS, §16 (NEW).]

C. That exists for the purpose of advancing the common occupation or profession of its membership.   [PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. SS, §16 (NEW).]

2.  Data custodian.  "Data custodian" means a federal data custodian, state data custodian or nonstate data custodian.

3.  Federal data custodian.  "Federal data custodian" means any branch, agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government.

4.  Geographic information board.  "Geographic information board" means the Maine Library of Geographic Information Board.

5.  Geographic information system.  "Geographic information system" or "GIS" means a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, analyzing and displaying information identified according to locations. A GIS includes operating personnel, hardware, software and the data that go into the system.

6.  Maine Library of Geographic Information.  "Maine Library of Geographic Information" or "library" means the statewide network created pursuant to this subchapter by which data custodians or their designees organize and catalog public geographic information and provide access to that information to all levels of government and to the public.

7.  Nonstate data custodian.  "Nonstate data custodian" means any agency or instrumentality of a political subdivision of the State.

8.  Public geographic information.  "Public geographic information" means public information that is referenced to a physical location. Public geographic information includes, but is not limited to, physical, legal, economic or environmental information or characteristics concerning land, water, groundwater, subsurface resources or air in this State relating to:

A. Topography, soil, soil erosion, geology, minerals, vegetation, land cover, wildlife and associated natural resources;   [PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. SS, §16 (NEW).]

B. Land ownership, land use, land use controls and restrictions, jurisdictional boundaries, tax assessments, land value and land survey records and references; and   [PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. SS, §16 (NEW).]

C. Geodetic control networks, aerial photographs, maps, planimetric data, remote sensing data, historic and prehistoric sites and economic projections.   [PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. SS, §16 (NEW).]

9.  Public information.  "Public information" means information that is stored, gathered, generated, maintained or financed by a data custodian. Information of state and nonstate data custodians is public information only if it is either:

A. A public record under Title 1, section 402, subsection 3; or   [PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. SS, §16 (NEW).]

B. Otherwise expressly authorized by law to be released.   [PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. SS, §16 (NEW).]

The presence of data in the library does not, by itself, make that information a public record.  

10.  State data custodian.  "State data custodian" means any branch, agency or instrumentality of State Government.

11.  State funds.  "State funds" means bond revenues and General Fund money appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of this chapter.