Maine § 2404. - Integrated Pest Management Council

§ 2404.. Integrated Pest Management Council

1.  Establishment; meetings.  The Integrated Pest Management Council, referred to in this section as the "council," as established in Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 3-C, is created within the department and is administered jointly by the department and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Pest Management Office. Members of the council must be jointly appointed by the commissioner and the Director of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. The council must meet at least 2 times a year. Members are entitled to reimbursement for expenses only in accordance with Title 5, chapter 379.

2.  Membership.  The council consists of the following 11 members:

A. Three members representing agricultural pest management;   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

B. One member representing a citizen interest organization;   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

C. One member representing the interest of forestry;   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

D. One member representing organic growers and producers;   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

E. One member representing structural pest management;   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

F. One member representing rights-of-way vegetation management;   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

G. One member representing turf or landscape management;   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

H. One member representing a nonprofit environmental organization; and   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

I. One member representing integrated pest management research.   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

3.  Term of office.  The term of office for members is 3 years except that, of the original members appointed, the appointing authority shall appoint members to serve one-year, 2-year and 3-year terms to establish staggered terms.

4.  Coordinators.  The commissioner and the Director of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension shall each appoint one member of the council to serve as a cocoordinator of the council.

5.  Duties; responsibilities.  The council shall facilitate, promote, expand and enhance integrated pest management adoption in all sectors of pesticide use and pest management within the State. Specifically, the council shall:

A. Identify long-term and short-term priorities for integrated pest management research, education, demonstration and implementation;   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

B. Serve as a communication link for the development of coordinated multidisciplinary partnerships among researchers, educators, regulators, policymakers and integrated pest management users;   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

C. Identify funding sources and cooperate on obtaining new funding for on-site trials, education and training programs and other efforts to meet identified goals for expanding, advancing and implementing integrated pest management;   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

D. Establish measurable goals for expansion of integrated pest management into new sectors and advancing the level of integrated pest management adoption in sectors where integrated pest management is already practiced; and   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

E. Cooperate with appropriate organizations to establish protocols for measuring and documenting integrated pest management adoption in the State.   [PL 2001, c. 497, §3 (NEW).]

6.  Report.  The council shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters annually on all of the council's activities during the year.