§ 38 §577-A — Maine Climate Council

The Maine Climate Council, referred to in this section as "the council," is created to advise the Governor and Legislature on ways to mitigate the causes of, prepare for and adapt to the consequences of climate change.
1.
Membership.
The council's membership consists of the following 39 members:
2.
Terms; compensation; staffing.
The term of a member appointed pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph R is 3 years. A legislative member appointed pursuant to subsection 1, paragraphs A or B serves for the duration of the Legislature in which the legislative member was appointed. At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed.
3.
Chairs.
The Governor shall appoint 2 cochairs from among the members serving pursuant to subsection 1, paragraphs C to N.
4.
Removal.
The Governor may remove any member appointed under subsection 1, paragraph R for incompetence, misconduct or failure to perform the duties of the position.
5.
Steering committee.
The cochairs of the council shall designate a steering committee composed of a subset of the council, including, but not limited to, the cochairs of the council, the subcommittee cochairs under subsection 6 and the working group cochairs under subsection 7. The steering committee shall establish the priorities and order of business of the council, the subcommittee and the working groups and shall provide input on other administrative matters before the council, the subcommittee and the working groups, including, but not limited to, determining the dates and frequency of meetings of the steering committee, the council, the subcommittee and the working groups.
6.
Scientific and Technical Subcommittee.
The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, referred to in this section as "the subcommittee," is established within the council to identify, monitor, study and report out to the council and to the working groups under subsection 7 relevant data, findings and recommendations related to climate change in the State and its effects on the State's climate, species, marine and coastal environments and natural landscape and on the oceans and other bodies of water.
7.
Working groups.
There is established within the council the following working groups:
8.
Actions by council, subcommittee and working groups.
The council shall consider and prioritize actions recommended by the subcommittee established in subsection 6 and the working groups established in subsection 7 and shall ensure that its actions and the actions of the subcommittee and the working groups, as applicable, are consistent with and include, but are not limited to, the following:
9.
Funding.
The council may solicit and accept funds from any source, public or private, to fulfill its responsibilities under this section, including, but not limited to, funds necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the subcommittee under subsection 6 and the working groups under subsection 7.
10.
Report.
Beginning January 15, 2021, and annually thereafter, the council shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over environment and natural resources matters describing the activities of the council, the subcommittee and its working groups over the prior calendar year and including any findings and recommendations of the council, including any proposed legislation. After reviewing the report, the joint standing committee may report out legislation to implement any recommendations contained in the report.

Legislative History

PL 2019, c. 476, §9 (NEW). PL 2019, c. 343, Pt. D, §18 (REV). PL 2021, c. 293, Pt. A, §52 (REV).