Sec. 1. P&SL 1953, c. 17, §13, as repealed and replaced by PL 1995, c. 75, §3, is repealed.

Sec. 2. P&SL 1953, c. 17, §§13-A and 13-B are enacted to read:

*Sec. 13-A.__Readiness to serve charges.__Effective January 1, 2004, the district is authorized to collect readiness-to- serve charges.__The district shall assess readiness-to-serve charges against properties abutting on or accessible to the water lines of the district that on January 1, 2004 or after that date become improved with new residential or commercial structures that do not connect to district water lines.__The district shall assess readiness-to-serve charges at the district's minimum rate under the district's rate schedule.

*Sec. 13-B.__Lien to secure collection of rates and other charges.__To secure the district's rights to collect rates and other lawful charges, including costs and interest not to exceed the highest rate established by the Public Utilities Commission for outstanding payments due to water utilities, the district has a lien on all properties served by the district and on all properties abutting on or accessible to the water lines of the district that are subject to the district's readiness-to-serve charges.

The method for obtaining, enforcing and receiving payment on the lien must be performed in the same manner, have the same effect and create the same rights as provided in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 1208, pertaining to the collection of unpaid rates by a sanitary district, except that the sanitary district lien created under Title 38, section 1208 has priority over the district's water utility lien created under this section.

SUMMARY

Current law allows sewer and sanitary providers to collect rates from properties immediately adjacent to their service lines even though owners of such properties may opt not to connect to the wastewater treatment services. Sewer and sanitary districts are also authorized to use statutory lien procedures to assist in the collection of outstanding rates and services. This bill authorizes the Madawaska Water District to employ these same statutory rights and procedures in its operations.