Resolve, To Establish a Working Group To Study Issues Relating to Liability of Apiary Owners and Operators

Sec. 1. Working group to study issues relating to liability of apiary owners and operators. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, referred to in this resolve as "the commissioner," shall convene a working group to review the liability issues relating to apiary owners and operators; and be it further

Sec. 2. Participants. Resolved: That the commissioner shall invite the following to participate in the working group:

1. A beekeeper employed by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry;

2. A person who represents hobby beekeepers;

3. A person who represents commercial beekeepers;

4. A person who represents commercial growers who use bees for pollination;

5. A member of the Maine State Beekeepers Association; and

6. A lawyer who is familiar with the liability issues related to the operation of an apiary; and be it further

Sec. 3. Duties. Resolved: That the duties of the working group are to review the liability issues relating to apiary owners and operators; and be it further

Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That, by February 1, 2014, the commissioner shall submit a written report of the findings of the working group under this resolve and any recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature relating to the subject matter of the report.

summary

This resolve directs the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to establish a working group to review the liability issues relating to apiary owners and operators. The resolve directs the commissioner to submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry no later than February 1, 2014. The resolve gives the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry authority to submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature relating to the subject matter of the report.