Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1871-A, sub-§1, as corrected by RR 2001, c. 2, Pt. A, §41, is amended to read:

1. Procedures; license fees. The department shall adopt rules establishing the requirements and procedures for issuance of licenses and annual renewals under this section, including a fee structure, except that the department may not impose license fees on a small retailer. Initial rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. Rules adopted effective after calendar year 2003 are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A and are subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business and economic development matters.

SUMMARY

Current law requires an establishment that accepts bottles for redemption to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources. Under rules adopted by the department, the annual license fee for redemption centers is $50.

This bill exempts from the license fee small retailers that accept bottles for redemption.