§1803. General powers and duties of the bureau

The Bureau of Parks and Lands:   [PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]

1.  Jurisdiction.  Has jurisdiction, custody and control over and responsibility for managing:

A. All state parks and historic sites and national parks that are controlled and managed by the State, except Baxter State Park;   [PL 2001, c. 604, §2 (AMD).]

B. Public reserved lands, nonreserved public lands, submerged lands and intertidal lands;   [PL 2001, c. 604, §2 (AMD).]

C. The Allagash Wilderness Waterway; and   [PL 2001, c. 604, §2 (NEW).]

D. Public boating facilities acquired or constructed and maintained pursuant to subchapter IX.   [PL 2001, c. 604, §2 (NEW).]

[PL 2001, c. 604, §2 (AMD).]

2.  Consultant services.  Shall employ or retain expert and professional consultants, contract for research and development projects and make grants as it determines necessary within the limits of funds available and consistent with the purposes of this chapter;

[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]

3.  Lifeguard training.  Shall oversee the existing lifeguard training being conducted by the Lifeguard Academy. The training procedures must be in compliance with the guidelines for open-water lifeguard training promulgated by the United States Lifesaving Association;

[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]

4.  Cooperative agreements.  Is authorized and empowered, with the consent of the commissioner, to enter into agreements with the Federal Government and other agencies and organizations that will promote the objectives of its enabling laws;

[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW).]

5.  Distribution of information.  At the expense of the State, may cause copies of sections or parts of sections of this chapter and of other laws of the State relating to the administration of public lands to be printed and freely distributed. The bureau may prepare tracts or circulars of information on the administration of public lands, which must be available for distribution; and

[PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]

6.  Rules.  From time to time shall adopt, amend, repeal and enforce reasonable rules necessary to carry out the duties assigned to it, including, but not limited to, rules:

A. For the protection and preservation of state parks, historic sites, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, public boating facilities owned or managed by the bureau, submerged lands, public reserved lands and nonreserved public lands;   [PL 2001, c. 604, §3 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]

B. For the protection and safety of the public;   [PL 2001, c. 604, §3 (AMD).]

C. For observance of the conditions and restrictions, expressed in deeds of trust or otherwise, of the state parks, historic sites, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, public boating facilities owned or managed by the bureau, submerged lands, public reserved lands and nonreserved public lands of the State and of monuments thereon; and   [PL 2001, c. 604, §3 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]

D. For preservation of the natural beauty, historic integrity and character of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.   [PL 2001, c. 604, §3 (NEW).]

All rules of the bureau must be adopted in accordance with Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II.

[PL 2001, c. 604, §3 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV); PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV).]

7.  Exceptions.  Notwithstanding subsection 6 or any other rule-making authority, the bureau may not adopt rules that prohibit the following persons from carrying a concealed handgun in the buildings or parts of buildings and other public property that are under the bureau’s jurisdiction:

A. A person to whom a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun has been issued under Title 25, chapter 252. The person must have in that person's possession the valid permit;   [PL 2013, c. 424, Pt. A, §4 (AMD).]

B. A person to whom a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun has been issued by another state if a permit to carry a concealed handgun issued from that state has been granted reciprocity under Title 25, chapter 252. The person must have in that person's possession the valid permit;   [PL 2013, c. 424, Pt. A, §4 (AMD).]

C. An authorized federal, state or local law enforcement officer in the performance of that officer's official duties;   [PL 2011, c. 394, §1 (NEW).]

D. A qualified law enforcement officer pursuant to 18 United States Code, Section 926B. The law enforcement officer must have in that law enforcement officer's possession photographic identification issued by the law enforcement agency by which the person is employed as a law enforcement officer; and   [PL 2011, c. 394, §1 (NEW).]

E. A qualified retired law enforcement officer pursuant to 18 United States Code, Section 926C. The retired law enforcement officer must have in the retired law enforcement officer's possession:

(1) Photographic identification issued by the law enforcement agency from which the person retired from service as a law enforcement officer that indicates that the person has, not less recently than one year before the date the person carries the concealed handgun, been tested or otherwise found by the agency to meet the standards established by the agency for training and qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry a handgun of the same type as the concealed handgun; or

(2) Photographic identification issued by the law enforcement agency from which the person retired from service as a law enforcement officer and a certification issued by the state in which the person resides that indicates that the person has, not less recently than one year before the date the person carries the concealed handgun, been tested or otherwise found by that state to meet the standards established by that state for training and qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry a handgun of the same type as the concealed handgun.   [PL 2013, c. 424, Pt. A, §4 (AMD).]

[PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV); PL 2013, c. 424, Pt. A, §4 (AMD).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1997, c. 678, §13 (NEW). PL 2001, c. 604, §§2,3 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 394, §1 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §7 (REV). PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV). PL 2013, c. 424, Pt. A, §4 (AMD).