LD 29 proposed to implement the recommendations of the Task Force to Reduce the Burden of Home Heating Costs on Low-income Households established in the Second Regular Session of the 119th Legislature by Resolve 1999, chapter 132. The bill proposed to:

1. Establish a summer "fill" program to provide low-income households that are eligible for fuel assistance through the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) with an initial supply of fuel;

2. Require the Maine State Housing Authority to identify the most effective way to provide adequate funding of the anticipated 25% nonfederal share of the weatherization program;

3. Establish a program funded by a bond issue to allow low-income and middle-income citizens to obtain low-interest loans or grants for energy conservation improvements;

4. Require the Maine State Housing Authority and the State Planning Office to investigate the possibility of establishing a separate Office of Energy Conservation within the Maine State Housing Authority;

5. Require the Maine State Housing Authority to annually for 3 years investigate the possibility of increasing the percentage of LIHEAP funds for weatherization services;

6. Require the Public Utilities Commission to monitor the effects of interruptible gas services on the supply and price of home heating oil; and

7. Require the State Planning Office to conduct a study to determine whether the State of Maine can reduce its per capita residential energy consumption by 25% by 2011.

Committee Amendment "A" (H-48) proposed to authorize the Maine Rainy Day Fund to be used to provide a working capital advance to the Fuel Assistance Reserve Fund in the event a General Fund unappropriated surplus is not available for that purpose. It also proposed to require the Maine State Housing Authority to study fixed-price fuel oil contracts for fuel assistance recipients and to require the Maine State Housing Authority and Finance Authority of Maine to fund a program that provides low-interest loans or grants to moderate-income Maine citizens through the issuance of private activity bonds. The amendment also proposed to reduce the amount of general obligation bonds proposed to be issued to fund low-interest loans or grants for energy conservation for low-income citizens from $8,000,000 to $5,000,000. It proposed to amend the wording of a proposed referendum question to be submitted to the voters of Maine to reflect the lowered bond issue amount. It also proposed to eliminate from the original bill a proposal to establish an Office of Energy Conservation within the Maine State Housing Authority. Finally, the amendment proposed to delete a requirement that the Public Utilities Commission monitor the effects of interruptible gas services on the supply and price of home heating oil in Maine and to change various reporting deadlines for reports to the 120th Legislature.

Although many of the provisions of LD 29, as amended, were incorporated into the Part 2 budget (LD 855, Public Law 2001, chapter 439, Part GG), the bill was nevertheless carried over to the Second Regular Session for additional consideration by the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs.

LD 39

An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue in the Amount of $9,000,000 to Purchase School Buses for Public Schools

ONTP

LD 39 proposed that bonds be issued in the amount of $9,000,000 to be used to purchase school buses for Maine's public schools. Proceeds of the bond issue would be disbursed over a 3-year period. The bill also proposed to require the Department of Education to adopt rules to determine the criteria for bus replacement that require, at a minimum, that buses that are to be replaced must be at least 10 years old and have mileage in excess of 150,000 miles.

LD 42

An Act to Fund the Endowment Incentive Fund

CARRIED OVER

LD 42 proposed an appropriation of $14,000,000 in fiscal year 2001-02 to the Endowment Incentive Fund to match qualified private donations for academic purposes at the University of Maine System, the Maine Technical College System and the Maine Maritime Academy.

Committee Amendment "A" (H-371) proposed to reduce the amount of the General Fund appropriation from $14,000,000 to $100,000

LD 42 was carried over to the Second Regular Session.

LD 47 proposed to allocate funds from the Boating Facilities Fund for an additional supervisor and seasonal assistant positions in the navigational aids program in the Department of Conservation.

LD 60

An Act to Require Full Funding of the State's Share of General Purpose Aid

ONTP

LD 60 proposed to require that the state share of actual local program costs of school administrative units be fully funded by specifying that the subsidy percentage reduction percentages for all program costs are 0% beginning in fiscal year 2001-02 rather than in fiscal year 2002-03 as provided under current law. This bill also proposed an additional amount of General Fund appropriations for the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools program to fully fund the state share of actual local program costs.

LD 79

An Act to Reinstate Tax Deductibility of Qualified Long-term Care Insurance

CARRIED OVER

LD 79 proposed to repeal, retroactive to January 1, 2000, changes that were made to the income tax deduction and credit for long-term care insurance premiums by restoring a requirement repealed in 1999 that eligible policies be certified by the Superintendent of Insurance.

Committee Amendment "A" (H-432) proposed to extend the income tax deduction and credit for federally qualified long-term care insurance to include policies certified by the Superintendent of Insurance.

LD 79 was originally referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation. When removed from the Appropriations Table, this bill was committed to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and carried over to the Second Regular Session.

LD 97

An Act to Provide Funding for the Beals Island Regional Shellfish Hatchery

DIED ON ADJOURNMENT

LD 97 proposed to appropriate $15,000 to the Department of Marine Resources in each of fiscal years 2001-02 and 2002-03 for the establishment of a grant to the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center to support outreach activities at the Beals Island Regional Shellfish Hatchery.

The provisions of this bill were included in the Part 2 Budget Bill, Public Law 2001, chapter 439 Part JJ. See LD 855.

LD 136

An Act to Increase the Adult Education State Subsidy by a Specific Percentage

ONTP

LD 136 proposed to appropriate funds to increase the state adult education subsidy by 6% for each year of the 2002-2003 biennium.

LD 146

An Act to Promote High Technology Training Programs in Maine Schools

ONTP

LD 146 proposed to appropriate $100,000 to the Department of Education in fiscal year 2001-02 to develop a grant program for schools with innovative plans to bring technology into the school.

LD 185

An Act to Improve Employment and Postsecondary Education Outcomes for Youth with Disabilities Exiting Maine's High Schools

DIED ON ADJOURNMENT

LD 185 proposed a General Fund appropriation of $200,000 in each year of the biennium to the Department of Education to allow the Committee on Transition to assist public schools to reach compliance with state and federal transition requirements as they relate to learning results and postsecondary outcomes for youth with disabilities.

An appropriation of $200,000 in fiscal year 2002-03 for the Committee on Transition was included in the Part 2 Budget Bill, Public Law 2001, chapter 439, Part MM. See LD 855.

LD 205

An Act to Provide Continued Funding for the Maine Airs Program

DIED ON ADJOURNMENT

LD 205 proposed to appropriate $45,000 in each year of the biennium to the Department of Labor for the continuation of the Maine Airs program through the Iris Network for people who are blind or visually impaired and other people who are unable to access printed information due to a disability.

Committee Amendment "A" (H-268) proposed to clarify that funding is to be provided on an on-going basis.

An appropriation of $35,000 in each year of the biennium of on-going funding for the Maine Airs program was included in the Part 2 Budget Bill, Public Law 2001, chapter 439, Part AAAAA. See LD 855.

LD 210

An Act to Fund the Maine Biomedical Research Program

DIED ON ADJOURNMENT

LD 210 proposed an appropriation of $10,000,000 in each year of the biennium to the Maine Biomedical Research Fund to support biomedical research in Maine.

Committee Amendment "A" (S-210) proposed to reduce the appropriation of funds to $6,000,000 in fiscal year 2001-02 and $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2002-03 to the Maine Biomedical Research Fund to support biomedical research in Maine

An appropriation of $2,150,000 to the Maine Biomedical Research Fund in fiscal year 2001-02 was included in the Part 2 Budget Bill, Public Law 2001, chapter 439, Part WWWW. See LD 855.

LD 211

An Act to Increase Health Insurance Benefits for Retired Teachers

DIED ON ADJOURNMENT

LD 211 proposed to increase the State's contribution for health insurance for retired educators from 30% of the member's share to 40% beginning January 1, 2002 and to 50% beginning January 1, 2003.

Committee Amendment "A" (S-152) proposed to add an appropriation section to the bill.

Provisions were included in the Part 2 Budget Bill, Public Law 2001, chapter 439, Part PP increasing the state share of retired teachers health insurance from 30% to 35% beginning July 1, 2002 and requiring that a retired teacher have 5 years of creditable service to be eligible for group health insurance coverage. See LD 855.

LD 223

RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Provide for Protected Reserve Funds

ONTP

LD 223 proposed to amend the Maine Constitution to permit the Legislature to create reserve funds to provide for capital improvements, to fulfill long-range goals or to meet fiscal contingencies of State Government. When carried over from one Legislature to another, a reserve fund could not be spent for any purpose other than that for which the fund was expressly created unless another purpose is approved by a vote of 3/5 of both Houses of the Legislature.

LD 224

An Act to Reinstate Emergency Assistance for Veterans

DIED ON ADJOURNMENT

LD 224 proposed to appropriate $200,000 in each year of the biennium to restore funding for aid to veterans and their dependents in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 37-B, section 505.

Committee Amendment "A" (S-209) proposed to repeal the existing statute regarding financial assistance to veterans and their dependents and replace it with new language that expands the eligibility criteria and streamlines the benefit payment process and to appropriate funds for administrative costs.

The provisions of Committee Amendment "A" with a nonlapsing appropriation for fiscal year 2001-02 only were included in the Part 2 Budget Bill, Public Law 2001, chapter 439, Part QQ. See LD 855.

LD 226

An Act to Fund Community Health Access Programs

DIED ON ADJOURNMENT

LD 226 proposed to establish the nonlapsing Affordable Health Care Fund and appropriate to it $1.5 million in fiscal year 2001-02 to provide subsidies for individuals enrolled in community health access programs.

Committee Amendment "A" (H-69) proposed to reduce the appropriation to the Affordable Health Care Fund to $100,000.

Although this bill died on the Appropriations Table, the establishment of the Affordable Health Care Fund was included in Public Law 2001, chapter 450, "An Act to Increase Access to Health Care" with a nonlapsing one-time appropriation of $50,000 in fiscal year 2001-02.

LD 228

An Act to Create the Maine EPSCoR Capacity Fund

DIED ON ADJOURNMENT

LD 228 proposed to appropriate $3,000,000 in each year of the biennium to the Maine Science and Technology Foundation to be used as the state match requirement for the Maine Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, a federal and state partnership that builds research infrastructure in states.

Committee Amendment "A" (H-479) proposed to reduce the appropriation to the Maine Science and Technology Foundation to $1,000,000 in each year of the biennium and to establish the Maine EPSCoR Capacity Fund in statute to be used to match successful EPSCoR awards

Provisions were included in the Part 2 Budget Bill, Public Law 2001, chapter 439, Part RR to establish the Maine EPSCoR Capacity Fund in statute and to appropriate $300,000 in fiscal year 2001-02 to the Maine Science and Technology Foundation for the purposes specified in the original bill. See LD 855.

LD 231

An Act to Provide Funding to the Maine Maritime Academy for the Small Vessel Endowment Fund

DIED ON ADJOURNMENT

LD 231 proposed to appropriate $500,000 in fiscal year 2001-02 to the Maine Maritime Academy to be used for maintenance and preservation costs of the schooner Bowdoin and to be matched by private contributions for the same purpose.

Committee Amendment "A" (H-104) proposed to appropriate $100,000 on a one-time basis in fiscal year 2001-02 to the Maine Maritime Academy's Small Vessel Endowment Fund, for which the academy would be required to raise private contributions on a 2-for-1 basis to supplement the appropriation.

Provisions were included in the Part 2 budget, Public Law 2001, chapter 439, Part SS to appropriate $50,000 in fiscal year 2001-02 to the Maine Maritime Academy's Small Vessel Endowment Fund to require 2 for 1 matching private funds. See LD 855.

LD 262

An Act to Make Additional Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government and Change Certain Provisions of State Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2001

PUBLIC 1 EMERGENCY

PART A proposed:

1. Supplemental appropriations from the General Fund.

2. Supplemental allocations from the Federal Expenditures Fund.

3. Supplemental allocations from Other Special Revenue funds.

PART B proposed:

1. Appropriations from the General Fund for approved reclassifications and range changes.

2. Allocations from the Highway Fund for approved reclassifications and range changes.

3. Allocations from the Federal Expenditures Fund for approved reclassifications and range changes.

4. Allocations from Other Special Revenue funds for approved reclassifications and range changes.

5. Allocations from the Federal Block Grant Fund for approved reclassifications and range changes.

PART C proposed to:

1. Amend the law to authorize transfers from the Maine Rainy Day Fund.

2. Authorize the transfer of funds from General Fund unappropriated surplus to the General Fund "Capital Construction/Repairs/Improvements - Administration" account in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services.

3. Authorize the transfer of funds from the Salary Plan program in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to the Department of Corrections.

4. Authorize the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Revenue Services to implement tax revenue maximization initiatives.

5. Authorize the transfer of funds from the Fund for a Healthy Maine.

PART D proposed to authorize the Department of Corrections to transfer funds by financial order to pay authorized labor market adjustments for teachers at the Northern Maine Juvenile Detention Facility.

PART E proposed to amend Public Law 1999, chapter 401, Part DDD, section 1, as it pertains to the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management.

PART F proposed to authorize the transfer of funds from the Bureau of Medical Services, Federal Expenditures Fund account in the Department of Human Services.

PART G proposed to authorize the transfer of funds from the General Fund unappropriated surplus to the Carrying Balances - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife program in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

PART H proposed to repeal the law as it pertains to the sawmill biomass tax credit.

PART I proposed to

1. Authorize the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to seek reimbursement of expenditures under Medicaid Title XIX for targeted case management.

2. Authorize the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to transfer funds by financial order for the payment of overtime expenses.

Committee Amendment "A" (H-7)

This amendment proposed to do the following:

PART A proposed to:

1. Make supplemental appropriations from the General Fund.

2. Make supplemental allocations from the Federal Expenditures Fund.

3. Make supplemental allocations from Other Special Revenue funds.

4. Make supplemental allocations from the Federal Block Grant Fund.

PART B proposed to:

1. Make appropriations from the General Fund for approved reclassifications and range changes.

2. Make allocations from the Highway Fund for approved reclassifications and range changes.

3. Make allocations from the Federal Expenditures Fund for approved reclassifications and range changes.

4. Make allocations from Other Special Revenue funds for approved reclassifications and range changes.

5. Make allocations from the Federal Block Grant Fund for approved reclassifications and range changes.

PART C proposed to:

1. Authorize the transfer of funds from the Salary Plan program in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to the Department of Corrections.

2. Authorize the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Revenue Services to implement tax revenue maximization initiatives.

3. Authorize the transfer of funds from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund to the unallocated surplus of the Highway Fund.

4. Authorize limited-period positions within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to continue work on the statewide E-9-1-1 project.

PART D proposed to authorize the Department of Corrections to transfer funds by financial order to pay authorized labor market adjustments for teachers at the Northern Maine Juvenile Detention Facility.

PART E proposed to amend Public Law 1999, chapter 731, Part DDD, section 1, and Public Law 1999, chapter 401, Part II, section 2 regarding a working capital advance and an appropriation to the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management.

PART F proposed to:

1. Transfer funds from the Bureau of Medical Services, Federal Expenditures Fund account in the Department of Human Services to the General Fund.

2. Transfer earned federal matching funds from Medicaid eligible expenditures in the Department of Human Services to the General Fund.

PART G proposed to authorize the transfer of funds from the General Fund unappropriated surplus to the Carrying Balances - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife program in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

PART H proposed to:

1. Authorize the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to seek reimbursement of expenditures under Medicaid Title XIX for targeted case management.

2. Authorize the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to transfer funds by financial order for the payment of overtime expenses.

3. Require the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to report back to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters on transfers by financial order for the payment of overtime expenses.

PART I proposed to authorize the Department of Transportation to carry forward funds appropriated for the Administration - Aeronautics program and the Railroad Assistance Program to June 30, 2002.

PART J proposed to authorize the transfer of unexpended funds in any account administered by the Legislature to be used to support legislative activities.

Enacted Law Summary:

Public Law 2001, chapter 1 is the "Emergency Budget Bill" for fiscal year 2000-01. It contains the following provisions.

Part	Section	Issue
A	A-1	Supplemental General Fund Appropriations
	A-2	Supplemental Federal Expenditures Fund Allocations
	A-3	Supplemental Other Special Revenue funds Allocations
	A-4	Supplemental Federal Block Grant Fund Allocations
B	B-1	General Fund Appropriations for Reclassifications
	B-2	Highway Fund Allocations for Reclassifications
	B-3	Federal Expenditures Fund Allocations for Reclassifications
	B-4	Other Special Revenue funds Allocations for Reclassifications
	B-5	Federal Block Grant Fund Allocations for Reclassifications
C	C-1	Authorizes a transfer from the Salary Plan to the Dept. of Corrections
		for approved upgrades of employees in adult corrections
	C-2	Authorizes tax revenue maximization initiatives
	C-3	Requires transfer of an amount not to exceed $500,000 from the General
		Fund unappropriated surplus to the Highway Fund by June 30, 2001
	C-4	Authorizes the establishment of 8 limited-period positions to continue
		work on the statewide E-911 project
D	D-1	Authorizes the Department of Corrections to transfer funds by financial
		order to pay teachers at Northern Maine Juvenile Facility
E	E-1	Provides an extension for the repayment of a working capital advance by
		the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management
	E-2	Provides an extension to the transfer of revenue from the Veterans' Services
		program, Federal Expenditures Fund related to expansion of the Veterans'
		Memorial Cemetery
F	F-1	Authorizes a transfer of Federal Expenditure Funds from the Bureau of
		Medical Services to the General Fund
	F-2	Authorizes a transfer from earned federal matching funds from Medicaid
		eligible expenditures to the General Fund
G	G-1	Authorizes the transfer of funds from the General Fund unappropriated
		surplus to the Carrying Balances program of the Dept. of Inland Fisheries
		and Wildlife
H	H-1	Authorizes the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and
		Substance Abuse Services to seek reimbursement for Medicaid
		expenditures
	H-2	Authorizes the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and
		Substance Abuse Services to transfer funds by financial order for
		overtime expenses.
	H-3	Requires Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance
		Abuse to report on all transfers pursuant to section H-2.
I	I-1	Requires any unencumbered balance in the Administration - Aeronautics
		program to be carried forward and a Department of Transportation report
	I-2	Requires any unencumbered balance in the Railroad Assistance Program
		to be carried forward and a Department of Transportation report
J	J-1	Permits the unexpended balance of any appropriation or allocation
		in any account administered by the Legislature to be transferred to be
		used to support activities of the Legislature

LD 283

An Act to Require First Responders to Carry and Administer Epinephrine Autoinjectors

ONTP

LD 283 proposed a General Fund appropriation of $15,535 in fiscal year 2001-02 and $12,810 in fiscal year 2002-03 for the Department of Public Safety to purchase bee sting kits for first responders and to provide the necessary training to administer epinephrine.

LD 300

An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds, and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2001, June 30, 2002 and June 30, 2003

PUBLIC 358 EMERGENCY

PART A proposed appropriations and allocations of funds.

PART B proposed appropriations and allocation of funds representing reduction proposals or adjustments.

PART C proposed to specify the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools actual education cost certification and appropriation levels for fiscal year 2000-01 as required by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15605.

PART D proposed to:

1. Amend the law to increase the rate of excise tax on cigarettes from 74¢ to $1 per pack effective November 1, 2001;

2. Amend the law as it relates to the Real Estate Transfer Tax in order to apply the tax to transfers of controlling interests in entities with an interest in real property in the same manner as transfers by deed;

3. Amend the law to enact positive income modifications for individuals and corporations, requiring the add-back of any net operating loss deduction carried back for federal income tax purposes. A corresponding negative income modification for individuals and corporations would allow the deduction of any net operating loss carry-back deduction disallowed;

4. Amend the law to clarify the high-technology investment tax credit by limiting it to designers and producers of computer software and hardware effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2001; and

5. Authorize the Bureau of Revenue Services in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to implement tax revenue compliance initiatives.

PART E proposed to repeal the quality child care credit investment and related provisions in the income and insurance premium taxes retroactively to June 4, 1999.

PART F proposed to amend the law to eliminate the transfer of funds from the Capital Construction/Repairs/Improvements-Administration program within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to the Reserve Fund for State House Preservation and Maintenance.

PART G proposed to continue the voluntary employee incentive program for the 2002-2003 biennium.

PART H proposed to:

1. Increase the statutory amortization schedule for the Maine State Retirement System unfunded actuarial liability from 19 years to 22 years starting in fiscal year 2001-02;

2. Authorize the State Budget Officer to calculate the amount of savings that apply against each affected account and make appropriation and allocation adjustments to those accounts by financial order; and

3. Authorize the State Budget Officer to adjust the employer retirement rates in fiscal years 2001-02 and 2002-03 based on the actuarial amounts and rates provided by the Maine State Retirement System.

PART I proposed to amend the law that provided for reimbursement by the State of certain property taxes paid by businesses. Certain property is currently excluded from the program, and, with these changes, certain additional property will be excluded on a prospective basis. Applications for reimbursement would now be made on a single form submitted annually. The Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement Fund, a nonlapsing dedicated account, is created in order to administer the program established by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, chapter 915.

PART J proposed to include unallocated language to guide the management of numerous Other Special Revenue, Federal Block Grant funds and enterprise funds.

PART K proposed to:

1. Authorize funds to be transferred from the Fund for a Healthy Maine to the General Fund;

2. Authorize funds to be transferred from the Bureau of Medical Services, Federal Expenditures Fund in the Department of Human Services to the General Fund; and

3. Authorize funds to be transferred from the Trust Fund for a Healthy Maine to the Fund for a Healthy Maine.

PART L proposed to:

1. Lapse funds from the carrying balance program in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to the General Fund;

2. Clarify the nature of funds appropriated to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for search and rescue as it relates to the Constitution of Maine.

PART M proposed to amend the law to provide for the closing of all state-operated liquor stores by October 31, 2001, and the privatization of the sale of liquor in Maine.

PART N proposed to present a comprehensive list of tax expenditures for the consideration of the Legislature.

Committee Amendment "A" (H-55)

PART A proposed to make current services appropriations and allocations and establish certain budgetary constraints for the operation of State Government for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2002 and June 30, 2003.

PART B proposed to make adjustments to current services appropriations and allocations.

PART C proposed to:

1. Establish the eligibility criteria for the "cushion" funding portion of General Purpose Aid for Local Schools;

2. Set the per pupil guarantee for fiscal years 2001-02 and 2002-03;

3. Set the statewide local share amount of operating cost allocation for fiscal year 2001-02;

4. Authorize the Commissioner of Education to spend $1,300,000 from adjustments and miscellaneous costs appropriations to assist local school units in implementing learning results;

5. Establish the basic elementary and secondary and foundation per pupil operating rates for General Purpose Aid for Local Schools;

6. Establish the per pupil guarantee and statewide factor for General Purpose Aid for Local Schools;

7. Establish the basic education allocation and appropriation funding levels for fiscal year 2001-02; and

8. Identify the fiscal year 2001-02 and 2002-03 funding levels for the foundation, debt service and adjustments components of General Purpose Aid for Local Schools.

PART D proposed to authorize the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Revenue Services to implement tax revenue compliance initiatives under current tax law.

PART E proposed to eliminate the contingent effective date for the Quality Child Care Tax Credit and eliminated the transfer from the Fund for a Healthy Maine that offsets the General Fund revenue loss.

PART F proposed to eliminate the transfer of funds from the Capital Construction/Repairs/Improvements - Administration program to the Reserve Fund for State House Preservation and Maintenance.

PART G proposed to establish voluntary employee incentive programs.

PART H proposed to authorize transfers from the Maine Rainy Day Fund to the General Fund in fiscal year 2001-02 and fiscal year 2002-03 and allowed the General Fund to retain the interest earnings on the balances in the Maine Rainy Day Fund. It also proposed to increase the amount of the transfers to the Maine Rainy Day Fund at the end of fiscal year 2001-02 and fiscal year 2002-03 from 1/2 of excess General Fund revenue to 3/4 of excess General Fund revenue and prohibited transfers of excess revenue to the Retirement Allowance Fund pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 1517.

PART I proposed to change the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement (BETR) to one payment per year.

PART J proposed to permit changes to several dedicated funds and to federal block grant allocations to cover any approved salary plan adjustments and approved reclassifications and range changes. It proposed to restrict use of allocations from the State Alcoholic Beverage Fund and the State Lottery Fund. It proposed to establish guidelines for carrying forward federal block grant funds and to establish guidelines for carrying forward several dedicated environmental funds.

PART K proposed to authorize the transfer of $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2001-02 and $400,000 in fiscal year 2002-03 from one-time enhanced federal matching funds in the Department of Human Services to General Fund unappropriated surplus.

PART L proposed to lapse $1,027,712 in fiscal year 2001-02 and $2,444,416 in fiscal year 2002-03 from the Carrying Balances - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife program to the General Fund. It proposed to provide that appropriations to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife associated with search and rescue are not considered amounts appropriated to the department for purposes of the Constitutional requirement that appropriations to the department may not be less than revenues.

PART M proposed to provide for the closing of state liquor stores.

PART N proposed to present a list of tax expenditures for continuation by the Legislature.

PART O proposed to increase the cigarette tax from 74 cents to $1.00 per pack and reduce the amount of the increase that licensed distributors retain.

PART P proposed to increase the sales tax on prepared food from 5% to 7% and amend the definition of prepared food.

PART Q proposed to restrict the high-technology investment tax credit to computer hardware and software activities and the provision of Internet access and advanced telecommunications services.

PART R proposed to:

1. Repeal the sawmill biomass tax credit;

2. Authorize the carrying forward of balances within certain General Fund programs within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services;

3. Recognize General Fund revenue from the recovery of reserve for accounts receivable; and

4. Recognize General Fund revenue from the sale of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

PART S proposed to authorize the transfer of up to $150,000 of unencumbered General Fund balances in the Harness Racing Commission program in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to the Harness Racing Promotional Fund, Other Special Revenue account.

PART T proposed to:

1. Repeal the Trust Fund for a Healthy Maine;

2. Repeal the working capital advance from the Trust Fund for a Healthy Maine to the Maine Rx Program;

3. Require the State Treasurer to transfer the balance remaining in the Trust Fund for a Healthy Maine to the General Fund on June 30, 2001;

4. Transfer to the General Fund a portion of the estimated year-end balances remaining as of June 30, 2002 and June 30, 2003 in the Fund for a Healthy Maine;

5. Transfer a portion of the estimated balance remaining available in the fund from the Fund for a Healthy Maine to the General Fund as a result of unexpended balances as of June 30, 2001;

6. Transfer unexpended funds in the Tobacco Prevention and Control, Other Special Revenue account in the Department of Human Services, Bureau of Health to the General Fund. These funds are not from the Fund for a Healthy Maine;

7. Deallocate the amounts allocated to the biennial reserve to make it available within the Fund for a Healthy Maine; and

8. Deallocate amounts that will not be expended during fiscal year 2000-01 from allocations from the Fund for a Healthy Maine so that they are available for transfer to the General Fund pursuant to section 10 of this Part.

PART U proposed to transfer an available balance in the Federal Expenditures Fund Maximus Fund program to the General Fund. It proposed to clarify that revenue from the hospital assessment collected by the Bureau of Revenue Services and transferred to the Department of Human Services would be deposited as General Fund undedicated revenue and lapse to the General Fund balances related to the hospital assessment in the Department of Human Services.

PART V proposed to provide a General Fund appropriation for the demolition of the State Prison in Thomaston.

PART W proposed to authorize a balance in the Education in Unorganized Territory account within the Department of Education to lapse to the General Fund in fiscal year 2001-02.

PART X proposed to establish the Tourism Marketing Promotion Fund within the Department of Economic and Community Development and dedicate a portion of meals and lodging tax collections to this fund to fund the Office of Tourism program.

PART Y proposed to adjust appropriations for the Low-cost Drugs for Maine's Elderly program and proposed to provide funding to establish the Healthy Maine Prescription Program.

House Amendment "A" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-60)

This amendment proposed to remove that part that provides for the closing of state liquor stores.

House Amendment "B" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-61)

This amendment proposed to remove language closing the state liquor stores. It also proposed to transfer funds from the Maine Rainy Day Fund to offset the cost of not closing the state liquor stores.

House Amendment "C" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-62)

This amendment proposed to remove funding for the fingerprinting and background checks of teachers and educational personnel.

House Amendment "D" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-63)

This amendment proposed to remove the Part of the committee amendment that raised the tax on cigarettes.

House Amendment "E" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-64)

This amendment proposed to establish one regional distribution center for liquor in each of the 16 counties of the State.

House Amendment "F" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-65)

This amendment proposed to:

1. Transfer $500,000 from the Maine Rainy Day Fund to the General Fund;

2. Deappropriate funding provided for the demolition of the Maine State Prison in Thomaston; and

3. Provide funding for the federal match for a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for nursing facilities.

House Amendment "G" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-66)

This amendment proposed to:

1. Strike Part M of the committee amendment, which provides for the closing of state liquor stores;

2. Transfer funds from the Abandoned Property Fund that result from the liquidation of securities held in excess of 3 years; and

3. Deappropriate funds from the Maine Learning Technology Endowment to the General Fund.

House Amendment "H" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-67)

This amendment proposed to increase the State's share of general purpose aid for local schools to reach the statutory intent of 55% of education costs.

House Amendment "I" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-68)

This amendment proposed to repeal the law requiring background checks and fingerprinting of school employees. This amendment also proposed to correct cross-references to the repealed provisions.

This amendment also proposed to remove funding for the fingerprinting and background checks of teachers and educational personnel.

House Amendment "J" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-69)

This amendment proposed to increase funding for General Purpose Aid for Local Schools to "hold harmless" those local school districts that lost funding so that they are funded at the same level as in fiscal year 2000-01. This amendment proposed to transfer the funds for this increase from the Maine Learning Technology Endowment.

House Amendment "K" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-70)

This amendment proposed to increase funding for General Purpose Aid for Local Schools to "hold harmless" those local school districts that lost funding so that they are funded at the same level as in fiscal year 2000-01. This amendment also proposed to transfer the funds for this increase from the Maine Rainy Day Fund.

House Amendment "L" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-71)

1. Proposed to strike the increase in taxes on cigarettes and prepared foods proposed in the committee amendment.

2. Proposed to strike the restriction on the high-technology investment tax credit and repeal the sawmill biomass tax credit proposed in the committee amendment.

3. Proposed to strike the Tourism Marketing Promotion Fund created in Committee Amendment "A" because the source of the funding was the increase in taxes on prepared foods.

4. Proposed to increase funding for general purpose aid to local schools by $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2001-02 and $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2002-03.

5. Proposed to reduce the appropriations to all state departments and agencies by 5% except for the following accounts: General Purpose Aid to Local Schools, Education in the Unorganized Territory, Debt Service, Teacher Retirement, General Assistance and Medical Care - Payments to Providers. Proposed to place a hiring freeze on all departments and agencies except for those personnel determined by the Governor to be essential to the safety, care and welfare of the people of Maine.

6. Proposed a cost-of-living adjustment to nursing home workers and nursing home residents.

7. Proposed to prohibit the State from paying for any portion of health care coverage provided to unmarried partners of employees of the State.

House Amendment "M" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-72)

This amendment proposed to provide additional funds for a cost-of-living adjustment for nursing facilities to partially offset funds deappropriated and deallocated in Part B of Committee Amendment "A."

House Amendment "N" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-91)

This amendment proposed to provide a 2nd tier of cushion funding for general purpose aid. The cushion is in addition to any other 2nd tier cushion that may be provided by law. Funding from the cushion would not be available to any school administrative unit that receives more than $400,000 in adjustments to component funding.

House Amendment "O" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-576)

This amendment proposed to amend Part M of the Part I budget, which proposed to close all 27 state liquor stores. This amendment proposed to close 17 stores and maintained 10 to be operated by the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations as regional wholesale and retail distribution centers. Under this amendment, the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Liquor Enforcement is authorized to license 6 agency stores in municipalities with a population in excess of 20,000 where a state store has been closed and 3 agency stores in municipalities with a population less than 20,000 where a state store has been closed. It also proposed to provide assistance for state employees laid off as a result of the closing of 17 state liquor stores.

House Amendment "P" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-607)

This amendment proposed to:

1. Remove Part H, which authorized transfers from the Maine Rainy Day Fund, allowed the General Fund to retain interest earned on that fund and increased the transfers to the fund for 2 fiscal years; Part M, which proposed to close state liquor stores; Part O, which increased the cigarette tax; and Part P, which increased the sales tax on prepared food.

2. Reduce the appropriations to all state departments and agencies by 5% except for the following accounts: General Purpose Aid for Local Schools, Education in the Unorganized Territory, Debt Service, Teacher Retirement, General Assistance and Medicaid programs and any accounts under the Maine Maritime Academy, the Maine Technical College System and the Legislature. It also proposed to place a hiring freeze on all departments and agencies except for those personnel determined by the Governor to be essential to the safety, care and welfare of the people of Maine.

3. Transfer $35,000,000 from the Maine Learning Technology Endowment to the General Fund.

4. Establish a 3% cost-of-living adjustment to nursing home workers and residents.

5. Increase funding for the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools account to "hold harmless" those local school districts that lost funding so that they are funded at the same level as in fiscal year 2000-01.

6. Increase the percentage of state-municipal revenue sharing to 5.2% from 5.1% beginning January 1, 2003.

7. Restore funding for certain child care services.

8. Restrict reimbursement of property taxes under the business equipment tax reimbursement program if the taxes also are reimbursed under a tax increment financing district agreement. Effective for property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2003, reimbursement under the BETR program is limited to 75% of taxes paid.

9. Require that military retirement benefits are not subject to the offset for social security and railroad retirement benefits effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2001. In the same Part, this amendment also proposed to correct a conflict created by Public Law 1999, chapters 708 and 731, each of which enacted a new Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph M. This amendment also proposed to resolve the conflict by reallocating one of the new paragraphs to be the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph N.

10. Add a delayed closure of the state liquor stores. It directed the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to close 8 state liquor stores by December 31, 2001 and an additional 6 stores no sooner than June 1, 2002, but not later than December 31, 2002 and established a commission to develop a plan to implement an appropriate statewide liquor distribution system.

11. Provide funds for the new classifications and pay ranges for Department of Corrections staff.

12. Set aside funds in the General Fund salary plan for collective bargaining agreements.

13. Provide funds to reduce the unfunded liability for retiree health insurance.

House Amendment "Q" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-609)

This amendment proposed to deappropriate all General Fund funding for the Forum Francophone and appropriate $75,000 per year for fiscal years 2001-02 and 2002-03 to support the employment and economic development activities of Spanish-speaking people in the State.

House Amendment "R" to Committee Amendment "A" (H-610)

This amendment proposed to increase general purpose aid to local schools by 3% in fiscal year 2003 and require the Department of Human Services to adopt rules increasing the amount of income that may be retained by residents of nursing and residential care facilities.

Senate Amendment "A" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-25)

This amendment proposed to restore funds deallocated for child care initiatives and pays for this cost with cuts in the legislative budget.

Senate Amendment "B" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-26)

This amendment proposed to provide funding for an increased cushion to eligible local school administrative units. The cost of the increased cushion is funded through a transfer from the Maine Learning Technology Endowment.

Senate Amendment "C" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-27)

This amendment proposed to remove the cap on military pension benefits, thus allowing them to be fully deductible from the state income tax.

This amendment also proposed to correct a conflict created by Public Law 1999, chapters 708 and 731, each of which enacted a new Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph M. This amendment proposed to resolve the conflict by reallocating one of the new paragraphs to be the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph N.

This amendment proposed to transfer an amount from the Maine Learning Technology Endowment to fund the loss in revenue created by the removal of the cap.

Senate Amendment "D" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-28)

This amendment proposed to remove the cap on military pension benefits, thus allowing them to be fully deductible from the state income tax.

This amendment also proposed to correct a conflict created by Public Law 1999, chapters 708 and 731, each of which enacted a new Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph M. This amendment proposed to resolve the conflict by reallocating one of the new paragraphs to be the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph N.

This amendment proposed to transfer an amount from the Maine Learning Technology Endowment to fund the loss in revenue created by the removal of the cap.

Senate Amendment "E" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-29)

This amendment proposed to remove the cap on military pension benefits, thus allowing them to be fully deductible from the state income tax.

This amendment also proposed to correct a conflict created by Public Law 1999, chapters 708 and 731, each of which enacted a new Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph M. This amendment proposed to resolve the conflict by reallocating one of the new paragraphs to be the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph N.

This amendment proposed to transfer an amount from the Maine Learning Technology Endowment to fund the loss in revenue created by the removal of the cap.

Senate Amendment "F" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-30)

This amendment proposed to remove funding of the "cushion" for school funding and applied it to general purpose aid for local schools.

Senate Amendment "G" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-31)

This amendment proposed to:

1. Transfer $500,000 from the Maine Rainy Day Fund to the General Fund;

2. Deappropriate funding provided for the demolition of the Maine State Prison in Thomaston; and

3. Provide funding for the federal match for a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for nursing facilities.

Senate Amendment "H" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-32)

This amendment proposed to provide funding for a 2nd tier of cushion funding for general purpose aid for local schools. This amendment also proposed to provide for the transfer of unobligated balances from general purpose aid for local schools and the Maine Rainy Day Fund to the General Fund.

Senate Amendment "I" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-34)

This amendment proposed to remove Part P, which increased the sales tax on prepared food, and fund the cost from a transfer from the Maine Rainy Day Fund. This amendment also proposed to eliminate Part X, but provide the same additional funding for tourism promotion in fiscal year 2002-03 as the committee amendment by providing a General Fund appropriation to tourism.

Senate Amendment "J" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-35)

This amendment proposed to appropriate $75,000 in each year of the biennium to the Forum Francophone Des Affaires. This amendment also expressed the intent of the Legislature that such legislative funding would not continue beyond the end of fiscal year 2002-03 without affirmative action by the Legislature.

Senate Amendment "K" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-36)

This amendment proposed to:

1. Strike from the committee amendment Part M, which closed the state liquor stores, Part O, which increased the cigarette tax, Part P, which increased the sales tax on prepared food, Part V, which provided for the demolition of the Maine State Prison in Thomaston and Part X, which established the Tourism Marketing Promotion Fund.

2. Provide funds for a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for nursing facilities.

3. Provide funding for a 2nd tier of cushion funding for general purpose aid for local schools. This amendment also provided for the transfer of unobligated balances from general purpose aid for local schools and the Maine Rainy Day Fund to the General Fund.

4. Increase the percentage of state-municipal revenue sharing to 5.2% from 5.1% beginning July 2002 and provide an $800,000 appropriation for state-municipal revenue sharing in fiscal year 2001-02. It also required Verizon to transfer $5,000,000 from the School and Library Network project to the Maine Learning Technology Endowment. The amendment also transferred $5,000,000 from the Maine Learning Technology Endowment to the General Fund to offset the costs of this amendment.

5. Provide additional appropriations for infant, toddler and preschool child care subsidies, school-aged child care subsidies and full-day, year-round Head Start programs to offset deallocations from Part B.

6. Appropriate $75,000 in each year of the biennium to the Forum Francophone Des Affaires. This amendment also expressed the intent of the Legislature that such legislative funding would not continue beyond the end of fiscal year 2002-03 without affirmative action by the Legislature.

7. Require the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to close 5 state liquor stores by December 31, 2001 and established a commission to develop a plan to implement the closure of the remaining state liquor stores by December 31, 2002. The department is directed to close the remaining state liquor stores no sooner than June 1, 2002 but not later than December 31, 2002.

8. Amend the law that provides for reimbursement by the State of certain property taxes paid by businesses. Certain property is currently excluded from the BETR program, and, with these changes, certain additional property will be excluded on a prospective basis.

9. Transfer $2,000,000 from the Abandoned Property Fund resulting from the liquidation of securities held in excess of 3 years to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund.

10. Establish a funding mechanism for the demolition of the Maine State Prison in Thomaston.

11. Remove the cap on military pension benefits, thus allowing them to be fully deductible from the state income tax. In the same part, this amendment also corrected a conflict created by Public Law 1999, chapters 708 and 731, each of which enacted a new Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph M. This amendment resolved the conflict by reallocating one of the new paragraphs to be the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph N.

12. Establish the Maine Learning Technology Endowment within the Maine Rainy Fund to consist of no more than $50,000,000, which is the amount of the principal of the original endowment. Interest earned on that segregated amount must be transferred to the Maine Learning Technology Endowment Fund to accomplish the purposes of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, Part 9.

13. Provide the same additional funding for tourism promotion in fiscal year 2002-03 as the committee amendment by providing a General Fund appropriation to tourism.

Senate Amendment "L" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-43)

This amendment proposed to:

1. Strike from the committee amendment Part M, which closed the state liquor stores, and replaced it with a delayed closure of the state stores. It directs the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to close 8 state liquor stores by December 31, 2001 and an additional 6 stores no sooner than June 1, 2002, but not later than December 31, 2002, and establishes a commission to develop a plan to implement an appropriate statewide liquor distribution system.

2. Eliminate Part O, which increased the cigarette tax, and Part P, which increased the sales tax on prepared food. It provided that military retirement benefits are not subject to the offset for social security and railroad retirement benefits. In the same Part, this amendment also corrected a conflict created by Public Law 1999, chapters 708 and 731, each of which enacted a new Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph M. This amendment resolved the conflict by reallocating one of the new paragraphs to be the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph N.

3. Amend the law that provides for reimbursement by the State of certain property taxes paid by businesses. Certain property is currently excluded from the BETR program, and, with these changes, certain additional property will be excluded on a prospective basis.

4. Increase the percentage of state-municipal revenue sharing to 5.2% from 5.1% beginning January 2003.

5. Transfer $51,500,000 from the Maine Learning Technology Endowment to the General Fund. The amendment appropriated $2,300,000 to the endowment to implement a portion of the plan and required the Commissioner of Education to report back to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the technology expenditures. It also required Verizon to transfer $2,000,000 from the School and Library Network project to the Maine Learning Technology Endowment.

6. Replace Part C and provided funding for a 2nd tier of cushion funding for general purpose aid for local schools. This amendment also provided for the transfer of unobligated balances from general purpose aid for local schools and the Maine Rainy Day Fund to the General Fund.

7. Double the amount of budgeted savings from projected vacancies to realize an additional $2,000,000 per year in personal services savings.

8. Transfer to the General Fund the estimated remaining balance in the Fund for a Healthy Maine at the end of fiscal year 2002-03. To address the cash flow needs of the programs funded from the Fund for a Healthy Maine, the amendment authorized a working capital advance from the General Fund to avoid delays in program implementation until the April 2004 Tobacco Settlement Payment is received. Fiscal year 2003-04 is the first year when no January payment is scheduled.

9. Provide funds for a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for nursing facilities.

10. Replace Part V, which provided for the demolition of the Maine State Prison in Thomaston as an appropriation. Instead, the amendment funded the demolition through the use of lapsed balances, or the Maine Rainy Day Fund if lapsed balances are insufficient to fund the cost.

11. Replace Part X, which established the Tourism Marketing Promotion Fund that was funded through an increase of the tax on prepared foods. A similar proposal is implemented, dedicating 7% of the tax on meals and lodging taxed at 7% to generate approximately the same amount of revenue for tourism promotion as the committee amendment.

12. Provide additional appropriations for infant, toddler and preschool child care subsidies, school-aged childcare subsidies and full-day, year-round Head Start programs to offset deallocations from Part B.

13. Appropriate $75,000 in each year of the biennium to the Forum Francophone Des Affairs. This amendment also expressed the intent of the Legislature that such legislative funding would not continue beyond the end of fiscal year 2002-03 without affirmative action by the Legislature.

14. Transfer $2,000,000 from the Abandoned Property Fund resulting from the liquidation of securities held in excess of 3 years to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund.

Senate Amendment "M" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-44)

This amendment proposed to:

1. Strike from the committee amendment Part M, which closed the state liquor stores, and replaced it with a delayed closure of the state stores. It directed the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to close 8 state liquor stores by December 31, 2001 and an additional 6 stores no sooner than June 1, 2002, but not later than December 31, 2002, and established a commission to develop a plan to implement an appropriate statewide liquor distribution system.

2. Eliminate Part O, which increased the cigarette tax, and Part P, which increased the sales tax on prepared food. It provided that military retirement benefits are not subject to the offset for social security and railroad retirement benefits effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2001. In the same Part, this amendment also corrected a conflict created by Public Law 1999, chapters 708 and 731, each of which enacted a new Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph M. This amendment resolved the conflict by reallocating one of the new paragraphs to be the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph N.

3. Amend the law that provides for reimbursement by the State of certain property taxes paid by businesses. Certain property is currently excluded from the BETR program, and, with these changes, certain additional property will be excluded on a prospective basis.

4. Increase the percentage of state-municipal revenue sharing to 5.2% from 5.1% beginning January 2003.

5. Transfer $51,500,000 from the Maine Learning Technology Endowment to the General Fund. The amendment appropriated $2,300,000 to the endowment to implement a portion of the plan and required the Commissioner of Education to report back to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the technology expenditures. It also required Verizon to transfer $2,000,000 from the School and Library Network project to the Maine Learning Technology Endowment.

6. Replace Part C and it provide funding for a 2nd tier of cushion funding for general purpose aid for local schools. This amendment also provided for the transfer of unobligated balances from general purpose aid for local schools and the Maine Rainy Day Fund to the General Fund.

7. Double the amount of budgeted savings from projected vacancies to realize an additional $2,000,000 per year in personal services savings.

8. Transfer to the General Fund the estimated remaining balance in the Fund for a Healthy Maine at the end of fiscal year 2002-03. To address the cash flow needs of the programs funded from the Fund for a Healthy Maine, the amendment authorized a working capital advance from the General Fund to avoid delays in program implementation until the April 2004 Tobacco Settlement Payment is received. Fiscal year 2003-04 is the first year when no January payment is scheduled.

9. Provides funds for a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for nursing facilities.

10. Replace Part V, which provided for the demolition of the Maine State Prison in Thomaston as an appropriation. Instead, the amendment funded the demolition through the use of lapsed balances, or the Maine Rainy Day Fund if lapsed balances are insufficient to fund the cost.

11. Replace Part X, which established the Tourism Marketing Promotion Fund that was funded through an increase of the tax on prepared foods. A similar proposal is implemented, dedicating 7% of the tax on meals and lodging taxed at 7% to generate approximately the same amount of revenue for tourism promotion as the committee amendment.

12. Provide additional appropriations for infant, toddler and preschool child care subsidies, school-aged childcare subsidies and full-day, year-round Head Start programs to offset deallocations from Part B.

13. Appropriate $75,000 in each year of the biennium to the Forum Francophone Des Affairs. This amendment also expressed the intent of the Legislature that such legislative funding would not continue beyond the end of fiscal year 2002-03 without affirmative action by the Legislature.

14. Transfer $2,000,000 from the Abandoned Property Fund resulting from the liquidation of securities held in excess of 3 years to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund.

Senate Amendment "N" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-256)

This amendment proposed to:

1. Strike from the committee amendment Part M, which closed the state liquor stores, and replaced it with a delayed closure of the state stores. It directed the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to close 8 state liquor stores by December 31, 2001 and an additional 6 stores no sooner than June 1, 2002, but not later than December 31, 2002, and established a commission to develop a plan to implement an appropriate statewide liquor distribution system.

2. Eliminate Part O, which increased the cigarette tax, and Part P, which increased the sales tax on prepared food.

3. Replace Part C and provide additional funding for the first tier of cushion and new funding for a 2nd tier of cushion for general purpose aid for local schools.

4. Lapse $4,000,000 from the General Fund salary plan program at the close of fiscal year 2000-01.

5. Transfer $12,000,000 to the General Fund from the estimated remaining balance in the Fund for a Healthy Maine at the end of fiscal year 2002-03. Proposed to address the cash flow needs of the programs funded from the Fund for a Healthy Maine, the amendment authorized a working capital advance from the General Fund to avoid delays in program implementation until the April 2004 Tobacco Settlement Payment is received. Fiscal year 2003-04 is the first year when no January payment is scheduled.

6. Replace Part V, which provided for the demolition of the Maine State Prison in Thomaston as an appropriation. Instead, the amendment funded the demolition through the use of lapsed balances, or the Maine Rainy Day Fund if lapsed balances are insufficient to fund the cost. It also dedicated the proceeds of the sale of the Maine State Prison to the Maine Rainy Day Fund.

7. Strike Part X, which established the Tourism Marketing Promotion Fund that was funded through an increase of the tax on prepared foods.

8. Transfer $2,000,000 from the Abandoned Property Fund resulting from the liquidation of securities held in excess of 3 years to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund.

9. Reduce a portion or all of the General Fund appropriations in fiscal year 2002-03 representing the growth over fiscal year 2001-02 funding for general purpose aid for local schools and the public higher education institutions.

10. Provide funds for the Department of Human Services to increase wages and benefits for nonadministrative personnel employed in nursing facilities and home care agencies.

11. Provide funds for the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to increase payments for wages and benefits for direct care personnel employed by certain agencies providing mental health and mental retardation services to adults and children.

12. Clarify the application of the high-technology investment tax credit and makes changes to limitations on the credit.

13. Provide a working capital advance of $1,700,000 from the Fund for a Healthy Maine to provide start-up funds for the Maine Rx Program and allocates funds to implement the Maine Rx Program.

14. Require the Medicaid reimbursement rate for routine home care under the hospice program to be set at the Medicare rate plus 23% beginning April 1, 2002.

15. Provide ongoing funds for the Maine Hospice Council to support volunteer hospice programs.

16. Provide that military retirement benefits are not subject to the offset for social security and railroad retirement benefits effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2001. In the same Part, this amendment also corrected a conflict created by Public Law 1999, chapters 708 and 731, each of which enacted a new Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph M. This amendment resolved the conflict by reallocating one of the new paragraphs to be the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph N.

17. Revise the hospital assessment revenue projections to reflect a recent acceptance of an offer in compromise.

18. Remove amounts reserved for the Healthy Maine Prescription Program, L.D. 1790, Public Law 2001, chapter 293.

19. Appropriate $75,000 in each year of the biennium to the Forum Francophone Des Affairs. This amendment also expressed the intent of the Legislature that such legislative funding will not continue beyond the end of fiscal year 2002-03 without affirmative action by the Legislature.

20. Amend the laws related to the Maine Learning Technology Endowment. It transferred $20,000,000 of the original amount appropriated to the Maine Learning Technology Endowment, plus an estimated $3,000,000 in interest income earned from the investment of the $50,000,000 in the endowment by August 1, 2001, to the General Fund. It required the State to raise a minimum of $15,000,000 in contributions from nonstate sources by January 8, 2003 in order to establish the endowment. Failure of the State to raise these contributions from nonstate sources by this date will result in the removal of the limitation on the endowment principal in implementing the learning technology plan in fiscal years 2002-03 to 2005-06. It stipulated that the principal and income of the endowment may not be used to implement the fundraising plan. It allowed limited use of the initial principal to ensure timely start-up and implementation of Phase I of the task force plan. It established a mechanism to allow donors to redirect their contributions to the endowment if the State fails to raise sufficient contributions by January 8, 2003.

21. Lapse $512,384 of balances available within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services resulting from savings in the amounts appropriated from the renovation of the State Office Building.

22. Recognize General Fund savings in the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program as a result of a recognition of the State's share of child support collections earned but not yet transferred.

Senate Amendment "O" to Committee Amendment "A" (S-260)

This amendment proposed to require individual and group health insurance policies to provide coverage for hospice care services to persons who are terminally ill. The amendment applied to all policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2002.

It also proposed to require the Department of Human Services, Bureau of Health to solicit grants and funding from other outside funding sources to establish and operate the Maine Center for End-of-life Care and proposed to require that the center be hosted by an educational institution, professional association or other entity interested in the care of the terminally ill.

It proposed to require the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Licensing and Registration to compile a report on the current entry-level and continuing educational requirements related to end-of-life care issues for licensed health care professions.

It proposed to require the Maine Health Data Organization to gather baseline data and standardized assessment tools regarding end-of-life care within the organization's existing database.

Enacted Law Summary:

Public Law 2001, chapter 358 is the "Part 1 Budget Bill for fiscal years 2001-02 and 2002-03." It contains the following provisions.

PART		SECTION		DESCRIPTION
A		A-1: A-24		Budget Preamble
		A-25		"Current Services" Appropriations & Allocations
		A-26		Technical Changes to "Current Services" Appropriations & Allocations
B		B-1		Adjustments to "Current Services" Appropriations & Allocations