Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the following:
‘Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the basic price of milk fluctuates and revised price projections are now available; and
Whereas, adjustment of the rates is needed to better reflect a wide range in potential prices; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,’
‘Sec. 3. 36 MRSA §4902, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:
2-A. Rate. The rate of the fee levied under this chapter is established for each fee period on the basis of the basic price of milk in effect on the Sunday following the first Sunday of the fee period in accordance with this subsection: A. If the basic price is $24.00 per hundredweight and above, the rate of the milk handling fee is 0¢ per gallon;
B. If the basic price is $23.00 to $23.99 per hundredweight, the rate of the milk handling fee is 2¢ per gallon;
C. If the basic price is $22.00 to $22.99 per hundredweight, the rate of the milk handling fee is 4¢ per gallon;
D. If the basic price is $21.00 to $21.99 per hundredweight, the rate of the milk handling fee is 6¢ per gallon;
E. If the basic price is $20.00 to $20.99 per hundredweight, the rate of the milk handling fee is 8¢ per gallon;
F. If the basic price is $19.00 to $19.99 per hundredweight, the rate of the milk handling fee is 10¢ per gallon;
G. If the basic price is $18.00 to $18.99 per hundredweight, the rate of the milk handling fee is 12¢ per gallon;
H. If the basic price is $17.50 to $17.99 per hundredweight, the rate of the milk handling fee is 16¢ per gallon;
I. If the basic price is $17.00 to $17.49 per hundredweight, the rate of the milk handling fee is 20¢ per gallon;
J. If the basic price is $16.50 to $16.99 per hundredweight, the rate of the milk handling fee is 24¢ per gallon;
K. If the basic price is $16.00 to $16.49 per hundredweight, the rate of the milk handling fee is 28¢ per gallon;
L. If the basic price is $15.50 to $15.99 per hundredweight, the rate of the milk handling fee is 32¢ per gallon; and
M. If the basic price is $15.00 to $15.49 per hundredweight, the rate of the milk handling fee is 36¢ per gallon.
If the basic price falls below $15.00 per hundredweight, for each 50¢ decrease in the basic price, the rate of the milk handling fee increases by 6¢ per gallon.
For any container other than a gallon, the fee is computed on a gallon-equivalent basis.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’
This amendment makes revisions to the rate schedule proposed in the bill. The bill proposed a minimum handling fee of 6 cents per gallon. The amendment proposes that a handling fee of 2¢ be initiated when the basic price of milk drops below $24 per hundredweight. The bill proposed a handling fee of 36¢ when the basic price of milk dropped below $16 per hundredweight. The amendment proposes a handling fee of 36¢ a gallon when the basic price of milk is between $15 and $15.49 per hundredweight. The handling fee would increase by 6¢ per gallon for every 50¢ decrease in the basic price of milk below $15 per hundredweight.