Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the following:
‘Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the construction of salt and sand storage facilities is important for the protection of groundwater; and
Whereas, the Department of Transportation currently has funding available to assist municipalities and counties with the construction of salt and sand storage facilities; and
Whereas, sufficient time is needed for those eligible municipalities and counties to go through a public process to decide if grants from the Department of Transportation should be used in conjunction with local money to construct salt and sand storage facilities; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,’
Amend the bill by inserting after section 3 and before the summary the following:
‘Sec. 4. Report. By January 1, 2017, the Department of Transportation shall provide a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters on the status of providing funding under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 23, section 1851 for the construction of salt and sand storage facilities in municipalities and counties with Priority 3 projects and providing reimbursement for qualified Priority 5 projects. The department shall consult with the Department of Environmental Protection, when appropriate, to identify those provisions of law governing project funding that are unnecessary and no longer relevant because all funding has been completed and shall include in the report suggested legislation making the recommended changes. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters may submit a bill to the First Regular Session of the 128th Legislature related to the recommendations in the department's report.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’
SUMMARY
This amendment adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause to the bill. The amendment also requires the Department of Transportation to report by January 1, 2017 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters on the status of funding Priority 3 municipal and county salt and sand storage facility projects and reimbursing qualified Priority 5 projects. The department is also required, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, to provide proposed legislation to repeal those laws governing project funding that are no longer necessary because all funding has been completed.