Title 12

The Bureau of Resource Management is established within the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The bureau is equal in organizational level and status with other major organizational units within the department or its successors. The bureau is administered by a director …

The Bureau of Warden Service is established within the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. It is equal in organizational level and status with other major organizational units within the department or its successors. The bureau is administered by a director who is immedi…

The Division of Public Information and Education is established within the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and is responsible for the administration of programs to increase the public's knowledge and understanding of inland fisheries and wildlife resources and the man…

The commissioner is appointed by the Governor, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over fisheries and wildlife matters and to confirmation by the Legislature. The commissioner serves at the pleasure of the Governor. Any candida…

1. Facilities. The commissioner is entitled to have an office at the seat of government and adequate facilities for the transaction of the business of the department. 2. Traveling expenses. The commissioner is entitled to receive all necessary traveling expenses.

In addition to other duties set out in this Part, the commissioner has the following duties. [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).] 1. Appointment of deputy. The commissioner shall appoint, to serve at the commissioner's pleasure, the Deputy Commissioner o…

In addition to other powers granted in this Part, the commissioner has the following powers. [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).] 1. Rules. The commissioner may, with the advice and consent of the advisory council and in conformity with Title 5, Part 18,…

1. Authorize taking or destruction of wildlife. Whenever the commissioner determines it necessary for the accomplishment of the commissioner's statutory duties, the commissioner may authorize a person to assist the commissioner in the taking and destruction of any wildlife. The c…

1. Commissioner's authority. The State assents to the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, Public Law, September 2, 1937, chapter 899, as amended, and the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act, Public Law, August 9, 1950, chapter 658, as amended. The commissioner is authorized,…

1. Identification of deer wintering areas. The commissioner shall, by rule, establish criteria for the identification of deer wintering areas in the State. The criteria must include: A. Observation by department personnel; [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (A…

1. Training in firearm safety. The commissioner shall establish a program for training individuals in the safe handling of firearms and for this purpose may cooperate with any public or private association or organization having as one of its objectives the promotion of safety in…

1. Acquisition of land; wildlife management and public access. The commissioner may acquire property pursuant to this subsection for fish hatchery or fish feeding stations or wildlife management areas or public access sites. A. The commissioner may acquire in the name of the Stat…

1. Definitions. For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Commercial record" means any paper or electronic record the department holds that is intended for business operations or that allows a person…

1. Appointment. The Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council, established by Title 5, section 12004‑G, subsection 20 and referred to in this Part as the "advisory council," consists of 11 members, with 10 members representing the 16 counties of the State in the following ma…

1. Members. The Advisory Board for the Licensing of Guides, established by Title 5, section 12004‑I, subsection 23 and referred to in this section as "the board," consists of the following 8 members: A. One subordinate officer of the department designated by the commissioner; [PL…

The Advisory Board for the Licensing of Taxidermists is established by Title 5, section 12004‑I, subsection 23‑A and referred to in this section as "the board." [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).] 1. Membership. Members of the board must be residents of…

1. Members. The Advisory Board for the Licensing of Whitewater Guides, referred to in this section as the "board" and established by Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 23-B, consists of the following 10 members: A. The commissioner or an employee of the department who is the co…

1. Appointment and composition. 1-A. Appointment and composition. The Landowners and Land Users Relations Advisory Board, referred to in this chapter as "the advisory board" and established by Title 5, section 12004‑I, subsection 49‑C, consists of the following 18 members: A. Thi…

1. Sale of publications. If the commissioner determines it advisable for the more effective dissemination of factual information, information of public interest or information tending to promote better public relations, the commissioner may fix the price, if any, of certain publi…

1. Appropriation. The amount of funds appropriated to the department in each fiscal year may not be less than the dollar amount collected, received or recovered by the department from license and permit fees, fines, penalties and all other money received by the department, except…

1. General. The following money must be paid to the Treasurer of State as undedicated revenue to the General Fund: A. All fees, fines, penalties and officers' costs and all other money received, collected or recovered by the court or the department under any provisions of this Pa…

The department is entitled to reimbursement for administrative costs associated with activities of the department performed in support of federal and other special revenue accounts from those accounts.

Any new program or service involving a mandated responsibility to the department must include provisions that specify that full funding for the new program or service is collected from those individuals who receive the service from the department.

1. All-terrain vehicle revenues. Revenues received under the provisions of this Part relating to ATVs, including chapter 939, must be disbursed and used as follows. A. After administrative costs and the disbursements required under section 13155, subsection 5, revenues received u…

1. Fund established. The Lifetime License Fund, referred to in this section as the "fund," is established in the department to accept all revenue derived from the sale of lifetime hunting and fishing licenses under section 10851. The Treasurer of State shall administer the fund a…

1. Fund established. The fish hatchery maintenance fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established in the department as a nonlapsing fund to be used by the commissioner to fund or assist in funding engineering designs, statewide facilities assessments and maintena…

1. Fund established. The Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund, referred to in this section as the "fund," is established. The fund receives money deposited by the Treasurer of State pursuant to section 10255 and Title 36, section 5284, revenues generated in accordance with …

1. Fund established. The Maine Wildlife Park Fund, referred to in this section as the "fund," is established. The fund receives all funds collected by the department from the operation of the Maine Wildlife Park, including gate fees, the proceeds of any sales at the Maine Wildlif…

1. Fund established. The Maine Environmental Trust Fund, referred to in this section as the "fund," is established as a nonlapsing fund administered by the commissioner for the purposes of improving state parks and historic sites by supporting the Parks General Operations Fund es…

The Land Management Fund is established within the department. The fund is authorized to receive revenue from the sale of timber, lease of lands, gifts and other revenues associated with the use of department-owned land. The fund must be held separate and apart from all other mon…

1. Fund established. The Lake and River Protection Fund, referred to in this section as the "fund," is established within the department as a nonlapsing fund. The fund must be administered by the commissioner. The fund is funded from a portion of the fees collected for lake and r…

1. Fund established. The Snowmobile Enforcement Fund, referred to in this section as the "fund," is established in the department's Bureau of Warden Service. All funds credited to the fund are available for use by the Game Warden Colonel of the Bureau of Warden Service only for t…

1. Fund established. The Whitewater Rafting Fund, referred to in this section as the "fund," is established to be used by the department, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands and the affected counties and municipalities to fund activ…

The Black Bear Research and Management Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established within the department as a nonlapsing fund to be used by the commissioner to fund or assist in funding research on and the management of black bears. Revenue from the nonresiden…

The Boat Launch Facilities Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established within the department as a nonlapsing fund to be used by the commissioner to fund or assist in funding the establishment, improvement and maintenance of publicly owned boat launch facilitie…

1. Fund established. The Warden Service Aircraft Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established through the Office of the State Controller as a nonlapsing fund under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Warden Service within the department, referred to in this secti…

The Moose Research and Management Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established within the department as a nonlapsing fund to be used by the commissioner to fund or assist in funding the research and the management of moose. One hundred dollars from each nonresi…

The Maine Deer Management Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established within the department as a nonlapsing fund to be used by the commissioner to fund or assist in funding predator control, to assist landowners with the prevention or management of landowner-d…

The Landowner Relations Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established within the department as a nonlapsing fund to be used by the commissioner to fund or assist in funding the landowner relations program established pursuant to section 10108, subsection 4‑A and…

The Camp North Woods fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established within the department as a nonlapsing fund to be used by the commissioner to fund the Camp North Woods program established under section 10108, subsection 12. All funds collected by the departmen…

1. Fund established. The ATV Enforcement Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established in the Bureau of Warden Service to be used by the Game Warden Colonel for the purposes established in subsection 2. All funds collected by the department pursuant to this sect…

The department shall deposit $1 of every hunting license and trapping license fee collected pursuant to sections 11109, 11109‑A and 12201 in a separate account within the department, to be known as the Fish and Wildlife Management Education Fund. The fund is nonlapsing. The depar…

1. Fund established. The Natural Areas Conservation Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established as a nonlapsing separate account to be administered by the commissioner to fund investigation, conservation and management of native plants and natural areas as des…

As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).] 1. Acquisition. "Acquisition" means fee ownership, easement, lease, right-of-way and other less-than…

There is established the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund. The fund consists of revenues received pursuant to Title 8, section 387 and any funds received as contributions from private and public sources. The fund, to be accounted within the department, must be held separate and apart …

The fund is for the sole purpose of maintaining, improving and expanding state and local natural resource conservation programs and associated compatible public uses in accordance with the strategic plan provided for by section 10308, subsection 5, paragraph A.