§568-B. Clean-up and Response Fund Review Board created
1. Clean-up and Response Fund Review Board. The Clean-up and Response Fund Review Board, as established by Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 11-A, is created to hear and decide appeals from insurance claims-related decisions under section 568-A and monitor income and disbursements from the fund under section 551. The review board consists of 9 members appointed for 3-year terms as follows:
A. One person representing the petroleum industry, appointed by the Governor, who is a representative of a statewide association of energy dealers; [PL 2019, c. 314, §1 (AMD).]
A-1. One person, appointed by the President of the Senate, who has expertise in oil storage facility design and installation, oil spill remediation or environmental engineering; [PL 2019, c. 314, §1 (AMD).]
B. Two members of the public appointed by the Governor who must have expertise in biological science, earth science, engineering, insurance or law and may not be employed in or have a direct and substantial financial interest in the petroleum industry; [PL 2019, c. 314, §1 (AMD).]
C. The commissioner or the commissioner's designee; [PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (AMD).]
D. The State Fire Marshal or the fire marshal's designee; [PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (AMD).]
E. [PL 2019, c. 314, §1 (RP).]
F. One member familiar with oil spill technology appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; [PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (NEW).]
G. One member with expertise in coastal geology, fisheries biology, marine fisheries or coastal wildlife habitat appointed by the President of the Senate; and [PL 2019, c. 314, §1 (AMD).]
H. One member who is a licensed state pilot or a licensed merchant marine officer appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. [PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (NEW).]
Members other than those described in paragraphs C and D are entitled to reimbursement for direct expenses of attendance at meetings of the review board or the appeals panel.
[PL 2019, c. 314, §1 (AMD).]
2. Powers and duties of review board. The Clean-up and Response Fund Review Board has the following powers and duties:
A. To hear appeals from insurance claims-related decisions of the commissioner and the State Fire Marshal under section 568-A; [PL 2011, c. 243, §3 (AMD).]
B. To adopt rules in accordance with Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2 and guidelines necessary for the furtherance of the review board's duties and responsibilities under this subchapter; [PL 2011, c. 243, §3 (AMD).]
C. [PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (RP).]
D. To monitor income and disbursements from the fund under section 551 and adjust fees pursuant to section 551, subsection 4, paragraph F, as required to avoid a shortfall in the fund; [PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (AMD).]
E. To, at such times and in such amounts as it determines necessary, and in consultation with the department, direct the transfer of funds from the Underground Oil Storage Replacement Fund to the fund; [PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (AMD).]
F. To review department priorities for disbursements from the fund and make recommendations to the commissioner on how the fund should be allocated; [PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (AMD).]
G. To review and comment on the State's marine oil spill contingency plan; and [PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (NEW).]
H. To review and monitor issues for oil spill prevention and response and recommend to the commissioner any regulatory changes that are appropriate. [PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (NEW).]
[PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (AMD).]
2-A. Meetings. The Clean-up and Response Fund Review Board shall meet 4 times per year unless the review board votes not to hold a meeting. Action may not be taken unless a quorum is present. A quorum is a majority of the seated members.
[PL 2019, c. 314, §2 (AMD).]
2-B. Chair. The review board shall annually choose a member to serve as chair of the review board.
[PL 2011, c. 243, §3 (NEW).]
2-C. Appeals to review board. An applicant aggrieved by an insurance claims-related decision under section 568-A, including but not limited to decisions on eligibility for coverage, eligibility of costs and waiver and amount of deductible, may appeal that decision to the Clean-up and Response Fund Review Board. The appeals panel is composed of the member appointed under subsection 1, paragraph A-1, the 2 members appointed under subsection 1, paragraph B, the member appointed under subsection 1, paragraph G and the member appointed under subsection 1, paragraph H. The appeals panel shall hear and decide the appeal. Action may not be taken by the appeals panel unless a quorum is present. A quorum is a majority of the seated appeals panel members. Except as provided in review board rules, the appeal must be filed within 30 days after the applicant receives the decision made under section 568-A. The appeals panel must hear an appeal at its next meeting following receipt of the appeal unless the appeal petition is received less than 30 days before the meeting or unless the appeals panel and the aggrieved applicant agree to meet at a different time. If the appeals panel overturns the decision made under section 568-A, reasonable costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the aggrieved applicant in pursuing the appeal to the review board must be paid from the fund. Reasonable attorney's fees include only those fees incurred from the time of an insurance claims-related decision forward. Decisions of the appeals panel are subject to judicial review pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 7.
[PL 2019, c. 314, §3 (AMD).]
2-D. Report; adequacy of fund. Beginning on April 15, 2015 and every other year thereafter, the Clean-up and Response Fund Review Board, with the cooperation of the commissioner, shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters on the department's and the review board's experience administering the fund, clean-up activities and 3rd-party damage claims. The report must include an assessment of the adequacy of the fund to cover anticipated expenses and any recommendations for statutory change. To carry out its responsibility under this subsection, the review board may order an independent audit of disbursements from the fund.
[PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (AMD).]
2-E. Staff support. The commissioner shall provide the Clean-up and Response Fund Review Board with staff support.
[PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (NEW).]
3. Repeal date.
[PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (RP).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 363, §12 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 363, §21 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 399, §§6-8 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 399, §21 (AFF). PL 1999, c. 505, §§A9-11 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 356, §8 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 245, §11 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 551, §14 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 319, §13 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 211, §23 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 211, §27 (AFF). PL 2011, c. 243, §3 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §41 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. A, §42 (AFF). PL 2013, c. 22, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 319, §30 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 314, §§1-3 (AMD).