PART B

Sec. B-1. Authorization of bonds to provide for the energy conservation grant and loan program. The Treasurer of State is authorized, under the direction of the Governor, to issue bonds in the name and on behalf of the State in an amount not exceeding $8,000,000 to raise funds for the conservation grant and loan program as authorized by section 6 of this Part. The bonds are a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State. The bonds may not run for a period longer than 10 years from the date of the original issue of the bonds. At the discretion of the Treasurer of State, with the approval of the Governor, any issuance of bonds may contain a call feature.

Sec. B-2. Records of bonds issued to be kept by the Treasurer of State. The Treasurer of State shall keep an account of each bond showing the number of the bond, the name of the successful bidder to whom sold, the amount received for the bond, the date of sale and the date when payable.

Sec. B-3. Sale; how negotiated; proceeds appropriated. The Treasurer of State may negotiate the sale of the bonds by direction of the Governor, but no bond may be loaned, pledged or hypothecated on behalf of the State. The proceeds of the sale of the bonds, which must be held by the Treasurer of State and paid by the Treasurer of State upon warrants drawn by the State Controller, are appropriated solely for the purposes set forth in this Part. Any unencumbered balances remaining at the completion of the project in section 6 of this Part lapse to the debt service account established for the retirement of these bonds.

Sec. B-4. Interest and debt retirement. The Treasurer of State shall pay interest due or accruing on any bonds issued under this Part and all sums coming due for payment of bonds at maturity.

Sec. B-5. Disbursement of bond proceeds. The proceeds of the bonds must be expended as set out in section 6 of this Part under the direction and supervision of the Maine State Housing Authority.

Sec. B-6. Allocations from General Fund bond issue; conservation grant and loan program. The proceeds of the sale of the bonds must be expended to finance acquisition and installation of energy conservation

improvements identified by certified home energy audits in the primary residences of low-income and moderate-income households.

Sec. B-7. Contingent upon ratification of bond issue. Sections 1 to 6 of this Part do not become effective unless the people of the State have ratified the issuance of the bonds as set forth in this Part.

Sec. B-8. Appropriation balances at year-end. At the end of each fiscal year, all unencumbered appropriation balances representing state money carry forward. Bond proceeds that have not been expended within 10 years after the date of the sale of the bonds lapse to General Fund debt service.

Sec. B-9. Bonds authorized but not issued. Any bonds authorized but not issued, or for which bond anticipation notes are not issued within 5 years of ratification of this Part, are deauthorized and may not be issued; except that the Legislature may, within 2 years after the expiration of that 5-year period, extend the period for issuing any remaining unissued bonds or bond anticipation notes for an additional amount of time not to exceed 5 years.

Sec. B-10. Referendum for ratification; submission at statewide election; form of question; effective date. This Part must be submitted to the legal voters of the State of Maine at a statewide election held on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November following passage of this Part. The municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Part by voting on the following question:

"Do you favor an $8,000,000 bond issue for an energy conservation grant and loan program to provide low-income and moderate-income households with financial assistance to acquire and install energy conservation measures?"

The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the returns and, if a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of this Part, the Governor shall proclaim the result without delay, and this Part becomes effective 30 days after the date of the proclamation.

The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this Part necessary to carry out the purpose of this referendum.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes an energy conservation grant and loan program for low-income and moderate-income households to purchase and install energy conservation measures. The Maine State Housing Authority will operate the program in consultation with the Finance Authority of Maine. The program will be funded by an $8,000,000 bond issue. The law creating the program takes effect upon voter approval of the referendum required under Part B of this bill.