§1-A. Legislative intent The Legislature finds agriculture to be a major industry in the State, contributing substantially to the state’s overall economy, essential to the maintenance and strengthening of rural life and values and necessary to the preservation of the health, safety and welfare of all of the people of this State. [PL 1979, […]
§1-B. Preservation of rural life and values; joint responsibility The Legislature finds there has been a dramatic increase of interest in rural living and small and part-time farming; that a high proportion of the population in rural areas is poor, elderly and underemployed; agriculture is significant to the State’s economy and that a prospering, stable […]
§1-C. Rules and regulatory and enforcement authority regarding the Marijuana Legalization Act (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 2017, c. 278, §1 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 409, Pt. A, §2 (RP).
§1. Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, is established and is maintained for the improvement of agriculture and the advancement of the interests of husbandry. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is referred to in this Title as the “department” and consists of the Commissioner of Agriculture, […]
§10. Biennial report (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 771, §98 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 837, §A14 (RP).
§11. Annual account of expenditures The commissioner shall render on the first day of July of each year a detailed and itemized account of all expenses of the commissioner’s office, of all institutes held and of all money paid out for employees under the provisions hereof, all sums of money paid for prizes on exhibits […]
§12-A. Emergency rules Notwithstanding Title 5, section 8054, subsection 3, an emergency rule adopted under any of the provisions of chapter 201, 301, 303, 305, 401, 403, 405‑A, 409, 411 or 525 may be renewed when the commissioner determines that the circumstances creating the emergency continue to exist. Emergency rules may be renewed for successive […]
§12. Rules and standards The commissioner shall adopt, consistent with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375, rules for carrying out this Title and all other statutes delegating responsibility to the commissioner or the department. The commissioner may fix standards of purity, quality or strength when such standards are not specified or fixed […]
§13. Enforcement The commissioner shall diligently enforce all provisions of this Title and all other statutes delegating responsibility to the commissioner or the department and is entitled to and must receive the assistance of the Attorney General and of the several county attorneys. The commissioner may recover the penalties imposed for violations of this Title […]
§14. Hearings on violations (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1967, c. 494, §5 (AMD). PL 1973, c. 598, §5 (AMD). PL 1977, c. 694, §42 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 308, §§5,14 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 512, §1 (RP).
§15. Jurisdiction; disposal of fines The District Court and the Superior Court shall have concurrent jurisdiction of actions brought for the recovery of penalties imposed by this Title, Title 17, chapter 43 and Title 32, chapter 27, and of prosecutions for violations hereof. All fines received under this Title and Title 32, chapter 27 shall […]
§16. Penalties Unless a specific penalty has otherwise been provided, a person, firm, partnership or corporation that violates a provision of this Title or a rule adopted pursuant to this Title commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged. [PL 2001, c. […]
§17. Investigation authorized In addition to duties expressly authorized in this Title, the commissioner may, upon complaint or for other reasonable cause, investigate any farm operation, method or practice with respect to animal waste in order to determine whether such operation, method or practice may have an adverse effect upon waters of the State as […]
§18-A. Connectors (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1993, c. 341, §3 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 743, §3 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 480, §2 (RP).
§18-B. Ring holding devices A person may not sell or offer for sale products in containers connected by a separate holding device constructed of plastic rings with at least one hole larger than 1 3/4 inches in diameter, unless the device decomposes by photodegradation, chemical degradation or biodegradation within a reasonable period of time upon […]
§18. Connectors (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1989, c. 869, §C1 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 876, §B2 (NEW). PL 1991, c. 415, §1 (RPR). PL 1991, c. 833, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 341, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 341, §8 (AFF). PL 1993, c. 743, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 480, §1 (RP).
§19. Holding of real estate The commissioner may accept, hold, administer, retain and dispose of interests in real estate in order to further the purposes of this Title. [PL 2001, c. 548, §3 (AMD).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1991, c. 415, §2 (NEW). PL 2001, c. 548, §3 (AMD).
§2-A. Hunters for the Hungry Program; acceptance of donations (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1995, c. 667, §C1 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 414, §B11 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 614, §2 (RP).
§2-B. Rural Rehabilitation Operating Fund The Rural Rehabilitation Operating Fund is established as a nonlapsing fund in the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to be used for the administrative expenditures incurred in the operation of the Rural Rehabilitation Trust Fund and the issuance of scholarships and loans from that trust fund. The Rural Rehabilitation […]
§2. — duties The commissioner is the chief executive charged with the enforcement of all statutes delegating responsibility to the commissioner or the department and shall be vigilant in discovering violations thereof and making complaint to the proper authorities. The commissioner shall by personal observation, investigation and correspondence become acquainted with the methods and wants […]
