Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

APPROVED                 CHAPTER
                                                                  JULY 26, 2023                 426
                                                                 BY GOVERNOR              PUBLIC LAW
                                  STATE OF MAINE
                                          _____
                           IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
                      TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE
                                          _____
                                   H.P. 105 - L.D. 164
   An Act Regarding the Funding of Lake Water Quality Restoration and
                          Protection Projects
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
   Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §480-N, as amended by PL 1989, c. 890, Pt. A, §40 and Pt. B
§§79 and 80, is further amended to read:
§480-N. Lake Water Quality Restoration and Protection Fund
     1. Fund purposes and administration. There is established a nonlapsing Lake Water
Quality Restoration and Protection Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," from
which the commissioner may pay up to 50% of the eligible costs incurred in a lake water
quality restoration or protection project, except that eligible costs for projects addressing
technical assistance, watershed surveys, watershed plan development, public education or
research issues may be paid up to 100%. Eligible costs include all costs except those related
to land acquisition, legal fees and debt service. All money The commissioner may use
money credited to that the fund must be used by the commissioner for only for the purposes
described in subsections 3, 4 and 6 and for projects to improve or maintain the quality of
lake waters in the State and for no other purpose. The commissioner may authorize the
State Controller to draw a warrant for such funds as may be necessary to pay the lawful
expenses of the lake water quality restoration or protection project, up to the limits of the
money duly authorized. Any balance remaining in the fund must continue without lapse
from year to year and remain available only for the purpose purposes for which the fund is
established and for no other purpose.
    2. Money Prohibited expenditures. Money in the Lake Restoration and Protection
Fund may not be used The commissioner may not use money in the fund to pay costs for
projects in or on lakes for which public access is not provided.
    3. Intensive staffing program Staffing support. The commissioner shall establish
an intensive staffing program to provide adequate staffing at both the state and regional
levels. The commissioner shall provide technical information and guidance and the
regional agencies shall assist with the adoption of revised comprehensive plans, standards
and local ordinances by local governments may use money in the fund for state, regional
                                   Page 1 - 131LR0279(05)
or local staffing to support administration and implementation of activities authorized
under this section.
    4. Public education program. The commissioner shall may use money in the fund
to develop a coordinated public education program for school children involving extensive
use of the media.
    5. Research. The commissioner shall encourage internal research focused on the
following statewide topics:
    A. Lake vulnerability, particularly as it relates to noncultural features of the watershed;
    B. The effectiveness and design of the best management practices to control
    phosphorous pollution; and
    C. New lake and watershed diagnostic tools.
    6. Research. The commissioner may use money in the fund to conduct internal or
external assessments and research focused on lake water quality restoration or protection.
    7. Funding sources. The fund may receive money from any source, public or private.
    Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF
Lake Water Quality Restoration and Protection Fund N422
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for projects that meet specific criteria and improve or
maintain the quality of lake waters in the State.
GENERAL FUND                                                       2023-24           2024-25
 All Other                                                              $0          $200,000
                                                                __________       __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL                                                      $0          $200,000
Lake Water Quality Restoration and Protection Fund N422
Initiative: Provides a base allocation in the event that outside funding is received for
projects that meet specific criteria and improve or maintain the quality of lake waters in the
State.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS                                        2023-24          2024-25
 All Other                                                            $500             $500
                                                                __________       __________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL                                     $500             $500
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS                                                   2023-24           2024-25
  GENERAL FUND                                                          $0          $200,000
  OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS                                         $500             $500
                                                                __________       __________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS                                          $500          $200,500
                                    Page 2 - 131LR0279(05)
Statutes affected: 
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 426: 38.480