SP0741, LD 1838, item 1, An Act To Expand Affordable Heating Investments with Maine's Public Resources

An Act To Expand Affordable Heating Investments with Maine's Public Resources

Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas, it is necessary to enact this legislation as early as possible to alleviate the burden of high residential heating costs on Maine families; 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,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1849, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 and Pt. C, §10, is further amended to read:

1. Revenue sources. Except as provided in paragraph A and Title 35-A, section 10124, the bureau must receive all money, securities and other things of value accruing to the State: from the sale of timber and grass and other rights and things of value from the public reserved lands under the care, custody, control or management of the bureau; in payment for timber, grass and other things of value cut or taken by trespassers; from forfeiture of a bond or a deposit when a contractor does not fulfill the terms of the contract or comply with state regulations; or as a result of a compromise or settlement of any claim.

A. The first $20,000 in the aggregate of any money accruing from the alienation of rights to mine upon public reserved land, or other income arising out of mining operations, that is actually received during any fiscal year, and every portion thereof accruing from these mining operations, must be paid to the Division of Geology, Natural Areas and Coastal Resources.

Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §10124 is enacted to read:

§ 10124. Affordable Heating from Maine's Forests Fund

1. Fund established. The Affordable Heating from Maine's Forests Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established. The fund is a nonlapsing fund administered by the trust in accordance with this section. Any interest earned on funds in the fund must be credited to the fund, and funds not spent in any fiscal year remain in the fund to be used in accordance with this section. The trust receives and deposits in the fund funds from the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund, established in Title 12, section 1849, subsection 2.

2. Funding source. All money deposited in the fund must be used for investments in measures that reduce residential heating costs. The measures must be consistent with the measures that lower residential heating demand in section 10109, subsection 4, paragraph A. The Treasurer of State shall transfer funds from the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund, established in Title 12, section 1849, subsection 2, to the fund in accordance with this subsection.

A. On March 1, 2014, the Treasurer of State shall transfer $500,000 from the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund to the fund.

B. On July 1, 2014, the Treasurer of State shall transfer $500,000 from the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund to the fund.

C. On July 1, 2015 and on July 1st in each year thereafter, the Treasurer of State shall transfer from the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund to the fund:

(1) If more than 170,000 cords of wood were harvested from the public reserved lands during the prior fiscal year, $1,250,000; or

(2) If 170,000 cords of wood or less were harvested from the public reserved lands during the prior fiscal year, $1,000,000.

For purposes of this paragraph, "cord" has the same meaning as in Title 10, section 2302, subsection 1.

3. Rulemaking. The board may adopt rules to implement this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes the Affordable Heating from Maine's Forests Fund, administered by the Efficiency Maine Trust. The fund receives revenue from the sale of timber and other things of value from Maine's public reserved lands. In 2014, a total of $1,000,000 will be transferred from the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund to the Affordable Heating from Maine's Forests Fund, and in subsequent years, $1,250,000 or $1,000,000 will be transferred annually depending on the quantity of wood harvested. The Efficiency Maine Trust is required to use the funding for measures that reduce residential heating costs.

SP0741 LD 1838	Session - 126th Maine Legislature		LR 2732 Item 1
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