| | Sec. 7. 7 MRSA §975-A, as amended by PL 1997, c. 388, §3, is | further amended to read: |
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| §975-A. Interest on Potato Marketing Improvement Fund balance |
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| | All or any portion of the interest earned or accruing on the | cash balance of the Potato Marketing Improvement Fund may be used | for grants to partially or fully fund research projects to study | and assess technical problems experienced with new and | retrofitted storage facilities and to develop means of dealing | with such problems, or to examine, monitor and develop new | technologies for the production, storage and handling of potatoes | or to develop infrastructure. |
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| | Sec. 8. 7 MRSA §976, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 502, Pt. B, §6, is | amended to read: |
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| §976. Aroostook County office |
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| | The department Maine Potato Board shall maintain or arrange | for the maintenance of an office in Aroostook County located in a | town most convenient to the largest number of potential users of | the Potato Marketing Improvement Fund and sufficiently close to | any local office of the Maine Potato Board as to foster a close | working relationship and provide a convenience to farmers who | wish to visit both agencies. This office shall must be staffed | by a one or more business development specialist specialists | whose responsibilities shall be are as defined by the department | board. The business development specialist shall specialists | must be available in the Aroostook County office on a regular | basis. |
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| | Should the performance of the functions of the business | development specialist specialists be contracted for, this | contract shall must be made by the agency managing the fund and | shall must be awarded through competitive bidding. |
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| | Sec. 9. 7 MRSA §977, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 125, §5, is amended | to read: |
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| §977. Potato Marketing Improvement Fund Operating Account |
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| | There is established a Potato Marketing Improvement Fund | Operating Account. This account draws funds from the Potato | Marketing Improvement Fund established in Title 10, section 1023- | N on a periodic basis to be determined by the department Maine | Potato Board to cover the costs of administering the fund and any | grants made. |
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