‘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 Maine dairy industry is essential to the State's rural economy and communities, generating $570,000,000 per year in economic activity, providing 1,300 jobs directly on farms and 4,000 jobs industry-wide, conserving more than 700,000 acres of open space and woodlands and providing the equivalent of 71,000,000 gallons a year in high-quality, fresh, local milk and other dairy products to Maine people; and
Whereas, the federal Milk Income Loss Contract, or MILC, program is due to expire in September 2013; and
Whereas, not all Maine dairy farmers receive payments from the MILC program in months when payments are made, yet the current formula for calculating the tiers of production assumes that all farmers have received a MILC program payment each month it is offered, creating an inequity between farms; and
Whereas, the inclusion of the over-order premium in the current formula for determining tiers treats organic and conventional farmers differently, creating an inequity between different production systems; 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,
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §3153-B, sub-§1, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 648, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §3153-B, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 648, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §3153-B, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 648, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 4. 8 MRSA §1036, sub-§2-A, ¶K, as amended by PL 2011, c. 625, §3 and c. 657, Pt. W, §5, is further amended to read:
Sec. 5. 8 MRSA §1036, sub-§2-A, ¶L, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 625, §4 and amended by c. 657, Pt. W, §5, is repealed.
Sec. 6. 8 MRSA §1036, sub-§2-A, ¶M, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 625, §4, is amended to read:
Sec. 7. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
Milk Commission 0188
Initiative: Provides funding for increased payments to the dairy stabilization program.
| OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
|
All Other
|
$988,527 | $2,187,678 |
 |
|
|
| OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL | $988,527 | $2,187,678 |
| AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF | ||
| DEPARTMENT TOTALS | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
|
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
|
$988,527 | $2,187,678 |
|
|
|
| DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS | $988,527 | $2,187,678 |
FINANCE AUTHORITY OF MAINE
Dairy Improvement Fund N130
Initiative: Allocates funds for loans to assist dairy farmers in making capital improvements from increasing the portion of net slot machine income from the Oxford Casino from 1/2% to 1%.
| OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
|
All Other
|
$262,915 | $265,544 |
|
|
|
| OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL | $262,915 | $265,544 |
| FINANCE AUTHORITY OF MAINE | ||
| DEPARTMENT TOTALS | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
|
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
|
$262,915 | $265,544 |
|
|
|
| DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS | $262,915 | $265,544 |
| SECTION TOTALS | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
|
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
|
$1,251,442 | $2,453,222 |
|
|
|
| SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS | $1,251,442 | $2,453,222 |
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’