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131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2023
Legislative Document No. 1342H.P. 856House of Representatives, March 28, 2023
An Act to Increase Funding for the Prevention and Control of
Invasive Aquatic Species
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative RISEMAN of Harrison.
Cosponsored by Senator CHIPMAN of Cumberland and
Representatives: CROCKETT of Portland, HEPLER of Woolwich, MALON of Biddeford,
MONTELL of Gardiner, SUPICA of Bangor. Page 1 - 131LR0552(01)
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2 as amended by PL 2019, c. 264, §1, is
3 further amended by amending the first blocked paragraph to read:
4 Prior to January 1, 2020, the fees outlined in section 13056, subsection 8, paragraphs
5 A and B for watercraft operating on inland waters of the State each include a $10 fee
6 for invasive species prevention and control. Beginning January 1, 2020, the fees
7 outlined in section 13056, subsection 8, paragraphs A and B for watercraft operating
8 on inland waters of the State each include a $15 fee for invasive species prevention and
9 control. Beginning January 1, 2024, the fees outlined in section 13056, subsection 8,
10 paragraphs A and B for watercraft operating on inland waters of the State each include
11 a $25 fee for invasive species prevention and control. Beginning January 1, 2026 and
12 each January 1st biennially thereafter, the fees outlined in section 13056, subsection 8,
13 paragraphs A and B for watercraft operating on inland waters of the State each increase
14 by $2. This fee is disposed of as follows:
15 (1) Eighty percent must be credited to the Invasive Aquatic Plant and Nuisance
16 Species Fund; and
17 (2) Twenty percent must be credited to the Lake and River Protection Fund
18 established within the department under section 10257.
19 as amended by PL 2019, c. 264, §3, is
20 further amended to read:
21 A. For a watercraft requiring or whose owner requests a certificate of number and that
22 is equipped with a motor having a manufacturer's horsepower rating of:
23 (1) Ten horsepower or less, prior to January 1, 2020 the fee is $25 for operating
24 on inland waters of the State and $15 for operating only on tidal waters of the State.
25 Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee under this subparagraph is $30 for operating on
26 inland waters of the State and $15 for operating only on tidal waters of the State.
27 Beginning January 1, 2024, the fee under this subparagraph is $40 for operating on
28 inland waters of the State and $15 for operating only on tidal waters of the State.
29 Beginning January 1, 2026 and each January 1st biennially thereafter, the fee under
30 this subparagraph for operating on inland waters of the State increases by $2;
31 (2) Greater than 10 horsepower but not more than 50 horsepower, prior to January
32 1, 2020 the fee is $30 for operating on inland waters of the State and $20 for
33 operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee
34 under this subparagraph is $35 for operating on inland waters of the State and $20
35 for operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2024, the fee
36 under this subparagraph is $45 for operating on inland waters of the State and $20
37 for operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2026 and each
38 January 1st biennially thereafter, the fee under this subparagraph for operating on
39 inland waters of the State increases by $2; and
40 (3) Greater than 50 horsepower but not more than 115 horsepower, prior to January
41 1, 2020 the fee is $36 for operating on inland waters of the State and $26 for
42 operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee
43 under this subparagraph is $41 for operating on inland waters of the State and $26 Page 2 - 131LR0552(01)
44 for operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2024, the fee
45 under this subparagraph is $51 for operating on inland waters of the State and $26
46 for operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2026 and each
47 January 1st biennially thereafter, the fee under this subparagraph for operating on
48 inland waters of the State increases by $2.
6 as amended by PL 2019, c. 264, §4, is
7 further amended to read:
8 B. Prior to January 1, 2020, for a personal watercraft requiring or whose owner
9 requests a certificate of number and watercraft equipped with a motor having a
10 manufacturer's horsepower rating of 115 horsepower or greater, the fee is $44 for
11 operating on inland waters of the State and $34 for operating only on tidal waters of
12 the State. Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee under this paragraph is $49 for operating
13 on inland waters of the State and $34 for operating only on tidal waters of the State.
14 Beginning January 1, 2024, the fee under this paragraph is $59 for operating on inland
15 waters of the State and $34 for operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning
16 January 1, 2026 and each January 1st biennially thereafter, the fee under this paragraph
17 for operating on inland waters of the State increases by $2.
18 as amended by PL 2019, c. 264, §5, is further
19 amended to read:
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22 No later than January 1st of each year, the commissioner shall provide the agents authorized
23 to register watercraft or issue licenses with a sufficient quantity of lake and river protection
24 stickers for motorboats and personal watercraft not registered in the State and for all
25 seaplanes, whether or not registered in the State, for that boating season. The sticker must
26 be in 2 parts so that one part of the sticker can be affixed to each side of the bow of a
27 motorboat or personal watercraft or to each outside edge of a seaplane's pontoons. Prior to
28 January 1, 2020, the fee for a sticker issued under this subsection is $20, $1 of which is
29 retained by the agent who sold the sticker. Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee for a sticker
30 issued under this subsection is $35, $1 of which is retained by the agent who sold the
31 sticker. Beginning January 1, 2022, the fee for a sticker issued under this subsection is
32 $45, $1 of which is retained by the agent who sold the sticker. Beginning January 1, 2024,
33 the fee for a sticker issued under this section is $55, $1 of which is retained by the agent
34 who sold the sticker. Beginning January 1, 2026 and each January 1st biennially thereafter,
35 the fee for a sticker issued under this section increases by $2, with $1 of the total fee being
36 retained by the agent who sold the sticker.
37 The remainder of the fee is disposed as follows:
38 A. Eighty percent must be credited to the Invasive Aquatic Plant and Nuisance Species
39 Fund; and
40 B. Twenty percent must be credited to the Lake and River Protection Fund established
41 within the department under section 10257.
42 A motorboat, personal watercraft or seaplane owned by the Federal Government, a state
43 government or a municipality is exempt from the fee established in this subsection.
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2 This bill increases the fees for original or renewal certificates of number with 2
3 validation stickers that are required for all resident motorboats and personal watercraft, and
4 the fees for lake and river protection stickers for all motorboats and personal watercraft not
5 registered in the State and seaplanes, operating on inland waters of the State. Beginning
6 January 1, 2024, the fee is increased by $10 and, beginning January 1, 2026 and each
7 January 1st biennially thereafter, the fee is increased by $2.
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