Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §2174, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 84, §3, is amended to read:

1. Certain property. Any A person with reference to trees on that person's own premises or on the property of that person's regular employer;

Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §2174, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 84, §3, is amended to read:

3. Certain employees. State, county, or municipal, quasi- municipal or public utility employees while engaged in their regular line of duty or those individuals contracted during emergencies that result in public hardships.__During all times other than emergencies, individuals contracted by state, county, municipal or quasi-municipal agencies or public utilities who perform the services of an arborist must be licensed;

Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §2174, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 84, §3, is amended to read:

5. Others. Highway contractors, subcontractors and their employees who remove trees during the performance of contracts for the construction or maintenance of highways and general contractors who remove interfering shade or ornamental trees or interfering parts of shade or ornamental trees in the conduct of their regular business.

Sec. 4. 7 MRSA §2176, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 84, §3, is amended to read:

1. Licenses; enforcement. The department shall evaluate the qualifications and supervise the examination of applicants for licensure under this chapter and shall investigate or cause to be investigated all formal complaints made to it and all cases of noncompliance with this chapter.

SUMMARY

This bill amends arborist licensing law by eliminating licensing exemptions for certain individuals. The bill allows only state, county and municipal employees and contractors of those governments to perform the services of an arborist without having licenses during emergencies that result in public hardships but requires those contractors to be licensed all other times. The bill limits the requirement of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to investigate all complaints made to it to only those complaints that are formally made.