12-A:1 Establishment.

There shall be a department of natural and cultural resources under the executive direction of a commissioner of natural and cultural resources, consisting of a division of forests and lands, a division of parks and recreation, a division of libraries, a division of arts, and a division of historical resources, which shall also be known as the state historic preservation office. The department's purpose shall be to ensure the efficient coordinated function of the 5 divisions, whereby the interests of protection and responsible management of natural and cultural resources, public enjoyment of state parks and forests, the state library, arts, film and digital media, and historic resources are each held to be of integral importance in the overall functioning of the department. All functions of the former department of cultural resources are hereby transferred, as of July 1, 2017, to the department of natural and cultural resources.