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STATE OF MAINE
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IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR
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H.P. 856 - L.D. 1342
An Act to Increase Funding for the Prevention and Control of Invasive
Aquatic Species
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10206, sub-§3, ¶C, as amended by PL 2019, c. 264, §1, is
further amended to read:
C. All revenues collected under the provisions of this Part relating to watercraft,
including chapter 935, including fines, fees and other available money deposited with
the Treasurer of State, must be distributed as undedicated revenue to the General Fund
and the Department of Marine Resources according to a formula that is jointly agreed
upon by the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Commissioner of
Marine Resources biannually that pays to the department the administrative costs of
the Division of Licensing and Registration. The Legislature shall appropriate to the
department in each fiscal year an amount equal to the administrative costs incurred by
the department in collecting revenue under this subsection. Those costs must be
verified by the Department of Marine Resources and the Department of Administrative
and Financial Services. The remainder of revenues after reduction for administrative
costs and after allowing for any necessary year-end reconciliation and accounting
distribution must be allocated 75% to the department and 25% to the Department of
Marine Resources and approved by the Department of Administrative and Financial
Services, Bureau of the Budget.
Prior to January 1, 2020, the fees outlined in section 13056, subsection 8, paragraphs
A and B for watercraft operating on inland waters of the State each include a $10 fee
for invasive species prevention and control. Beginning January 1, 2020, the fees
outlined in section 13056, subsection 8, paragraphs A and B for watercraft operating
on inland waters of the State each include a $15 fee for invasive species prevention and
control. Beginning January 1, 2025, the fees outlined in section 13056, subsection 8,
paragraphs A and B for watercraft operating on inland waters of the State each include
a $25 fee for invasive species prevention and control. Beginning January 1, 2028, the
fees outlined in section 13056, subsection 8, paragraphs A and B for watercraft
operating on inland waters of the State each include a $35 fee for invasive species
prevention and control. This fee is disposed of as follows:
LAW WITHOUT
GOVERNOR'S
SIGNATURE
APRIL 10, 2024
CHAPTER
612
PUBLIC LAW Page 2 - 131LR0552(03)
(1) Eighty percent Prior to January 1, 2025, 80% must be credited to the Invasive
Aquatic Plant and Nuisance Species Fund. Beginning January 1, 2025, 70% must
be credited to the Invasive Aquatic Plant and Nuisance Species Fund; and
(2) Twenty percent Prior to January 1, 2025, 20% must be credited to the Lake
and River Protection Fund established within the department under section 10257.
Beginning January 1, 2025, 30% must be credited to the Lake and River Protection
Fund.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §13056, sub-§8, ¶A, as amended by PL 2019, c. 264, §3, is
further amended to read:
A. For a watercraft requiring or whose owner requests a certificate of number and that
is equipped with a motor having a manufacturer's horsepower rating of:
(1) Ten horsepower or less, prior to January 1, 2020 the fee is $25 for operating
on inland waters of the State and $15 for operating only on tidal waters of the State.
Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee under this subparagraph is $30 for operating on
inland waters of the State and $15 for operating only on tidal waters of the State.
Beginning January 1, 2025, the fee under this subparagraph is $40 for operating on
inland waters of the State and $15 for operating only on tidal waters of the State.
Beginning January 1, 2028, the fee under this subparagraph is $50 for operating on
inland waters of the State and $15 for operating only on tidal waters of the State;
(2) Greater than 10 horsepower but not more than 50 horsepower, prior to January
1, 2020 the fee is $30 for operating on inland waters of the State and $20 for
operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee
under this subparagraph is $35 for operating on inland waters of the State and $20
for operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2025, the fee
under this subparagraph is $45 for operating on inland waters of the State and $20
for operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2028, the fee
under this subparagraph is $55 for operating on inland waters of the State and $20
for operating only on tidal waters of the State; and
(3) Greater than 50 horsepower but not more than 115 horsepower, prior to January
1, 2020 the fee is $36 for operating on inland waters of the State and $26 for
operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee
under this subparagraph is $41 for operating on inland waters of the State and $26
for operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2025, the fee
under this subparagraph is $51 for operating on inland waters of the State and $26
for operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2028, the fee
under this subparagraph is $61 for operating on inland waters of the State and $26
for operating only on tidal waters of the State.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §13056, sub-§8, ¶B, as amended by PL 2019, c. 264, §4, is
further amended to read:
B. Prior to January 1, 2020, for a personal watercraft requiring or whose owner
requests a certificate of number and watercraft equipped with a motor having a
manufacturer's horsepower rating of greater than 115 horsepower or greater, the fee is
$44 for operating on inland waters of the State and $34 for operating only on tidal
waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee under this paragraph is $49 for Page 3 - 131LR0552(03)
operating on inland waters of the State and $34 for operating only on tidal waters of
the State. Beginning January 1, 2025, the fee under this paragraph is $59 for operating
on inland waters of the State and $34 for operating only on tidal waters of the State.
Beginning January 1, 2028, the fee under this paragraph is $69 for operating on inland
waters of the State and $34 for operating only on tidal waters of the State.
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §13058, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2019, c. 264, §5, is further
amended to read:
3. Nonresident motorboat and personal watercraft lake and river protection
sticker and resident and nonresident seaplane lake and river protection sticker; fee.
No later than January 1st of each year, the commissioner shall provide the agents authorized
to register watercraft or issue licenses with a sufficient quantity of lake and river protection
stickers for motorboats and personal watercraft not registered in the State and for all
seaplanes, whether or not registered in the State, for that boating season. The sticker must
be in 2 parts so that one part of the sticker can be affixed to each side of the bow of a
motorboat or personal watercraft or to each outside edge of a seaplane's pontoons. Prior to
January 1, 2020, the fee for a sticker issued under this subsection is $20, $1 of which is
retained by the agent who sold the sticker. Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee for a sticker
issued under this subsection is $35, $1 of which is retained by the agent who sold the
sticker. Beginning January 1, 2022, the fee for a sticker issued under this subsection is
$45, $1 of which is retained by the agent who sold the sticker. Beginning January 1, 2025,
the fee for a sticker issued under this subsection is $60, $1 of which is retained by the agent
who sold the sticker. Beginning January 1, 2028, the fee for a sticker issued under this
subsection is $75, $1 of which is retained by the agent who sold the sticker.
The remainder of the fee is disposed of as follows:
A. Eighty percent Prior to January 1, 2025, 80% must be credited to the Invasive
Aquatic Plant and Nuisance Species Fund. Beginning January 1, 2025, 70% must be
credited to the Invasive Aquatic Plant and Nuisance Species Fund; and
B. Twenty percent Prior to January 1, 2025, 20% must be credited to the Lake and
River Protection Fund established within the department under section 10257.
Beginning January 1, 2025, 30% must be credited to the Lake and River Protection
Fund.
A motorboat, personal watercraft or seaplane owned by the Federal Government, a state
government or a municipality is exempt from the fee established in this subsection.
Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF
Water Quality 0248
Initiative: Provides allocations for costs related to conducting inspections and invasive
aquatic plant prevention, for containment, eradication and management activities and to
contract with municipalities or other entities to conduct inspection, prevention or
eradication programs to protect the inland waters of the State from invasive aquatic plant
and nuisance species.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2023-24 2024-25 Page 4 - 131LR0552(03)
All Other $0 $628,342
____________________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$0 $628,342
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2023-24 2024-25
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS $0 $628,342
____________________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$0 $628,342
INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT OF
Enforcement Operations - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 0537
Initiative: Provides allocations for enforcing laws pertaining to invasive aquatic plants and
nuisance species, for inspecting watercraft for invasive aquatic plant and nuisance species
materials and for educational and informational efforts targeted at invasive aquatic plant
and nuisance species prevention, eradication and management activities and the production
and distribution of lake and river protection stickers.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2023-24 2024-25All Other $0 $533,345
____________________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$0 $533,345
INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE,
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2023-24 2024-25
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS $0 $533,345
____________________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$0 $533,345
SECTION TOTALS
2023-24 2024-25
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS $0 $1,161,687
____________________
SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$0 $1,161,687