Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §1, first ¶, as amended by PL 1999, c. 682, §6, is further amended to read:

The municipal officers of a town, on request by any person desiring mooring privileges or regulation of mooring privileges for boats or vessels, shall appoint a harbor master for a term of not less than one year, who is subject to all the duties and liabilities of that office as prescribed by state law, municipal ordinances and regulations adopted by the municipal officers, municipal harbor commissioners, municipal port authorities or other such bodies empowered to regulate municipal harbors. The municipal officers shall conduct a background check prior to the appointment of a person as harbor master. The municipal officers may establish the harbor master's compensation and, for cause by them declared in writing, after due notice to the officer and hearing, if requested, remove the harbor master and appoint another one.

Sec. 2. 38 MRSA §1-A is enacted to read:

§1-A.__Harbor master training

A person serving as harbor master or deputy harbor master shall complete a basic harbor master course offered by the Maine Harbor Masters Association or its successor organization within one year after being appointed.__The person shall complete an advanced harbor master course as soon as one is offered after the person has completed the basic harbor master course.__The person shall complete a harbor master refresher course every 2 years.

Sec. 3. 38 MRSA §11, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

4.__Harbor master.__"Harbor master" means a person who is charged with the duty of enforcing the laws regulating tidal or navigable waters of the State.

SUMMARY

This bill requires a municipality to conduct a background check on a person prior to appointing the person as a harbor master. This bill also requires harbor masters to complete harbor master courses offered by the Maine Harbor Masters Association or its successor organization. The bill also defines harbor master.