An Act To Correct Errors and Inconsistencies in the Laws of Maine
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, acts of this and previous Legislatures have resulted in certain technical errors and inconsistencies in the laws of Maine; and
Whereas, these errors and inconsistencies create uncertainties and confusion in interpreting legislative intent; and
Whereas, it is vitally necessary that these uncertainties and this confusion be resolved in order to prevent any injustice or hardship to the citizens of Maine; 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,
PART A
Sec. A-1. 1 MRSA §150, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 28, §1, is reallocated to 1 MRSA §150-B.
Sec. A-2. 1 MRSA §353, as amended by PL 2005, c. 316, §1, is further amended to read:
§ 353. Explanation of proposed amendments and statewide referenda
With the assistance of the Secretary of State, the Attorney General shall prepare a brief explanatory statement that must fairly describe the intent and content and what a "yes" vote favors and a "no" vote opposes for each constitutional resolution or statewide referendum that may be presented to the people and that must include any information prepared by the Treasurer of State under Title 5, section 152. The explanatory statement may not include comments of proponents or opponents as provided by section 354. In addition to the explanatory statement, beginning with the November 2006 election the Office of Fiscal and Program Review shall prepare an estimate of the fiscal impact of each constitutional resolution or statewide referendum on state revenues, appropriations and allocations within 30 days after the adjournment of the legislative session immediately prior to the statewide election when the constitutional resolution or referendum will appear on the ballot. The fiscal impact estimate must summarize the aggregate impact that the constitutional resolution or referendum will have on the General Fund, the Highway Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds and the amounts distributed by the states State to local units of government. The Secretary of State shall publish the explanatory statement and the fiscal estimate in each daily newspaper of the State, not more than 10 and not less than 7 days prior to the voting. This information may be published in the English language in a foreign language newspaper.
Sec. A-3. 1 MRSA §535, sub-§3, ¶A, as amended by PL 2003, c. 681, §1, is further amended to read:
Sec. A-4. 1 MRSA §535, sub-§3, ¶B, as amended by PL 2003, c. 681, §1, is further amended to read:
Sec. A-5. 2 MRSA §6, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. HH, §1 and c. 273, Pt. B, §2 and affected by §7, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-6. 3 MRSA §959, sub-§1, ¶I, as amended by PL 2003, c. 600, §1, is further amended to read:
(1) Maine State Public Employees Retirement System in 2005 2013;
(2) Department of Labor in 2007;
(3) Maine Labor Relations Board in 2009; and
(4) Workers' Compensation Board in 2009.
Sec. A-7. 5 MRSA §4613, sub-§2, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 243, §8 and c. 457, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
(1) An order to cease and desist from the unlawful practices specified in the order;
(2) An order to employ or reinstate a victim of unlawful employment discrimination, with or without back pay;
(3) An order to accept or reinstate such a person in a union;
(4) An order to rent or sell a specified housing accommodation, or one substantially identical to that accommodation if controlled by the respondent, to a victim of unlawful housing discrimination;
(5) An order requiring the disclosure of the locations and descriptions of all housing accommodations that the violator has the right to sell, rent, lease or manage and forbidding the sale, rental or lease of those housing accommodations until the violator has given security to ensure compliance with any order entered against the violator and with all provisions of this Act. An order may continue the court's jurisdiction until the violator has demonstrated compliance and may defer decision on some or all relief until after a probationary period and a further hearing on the violator's conduct during that period;
(6) An order to pay the victim, in cases of unlawful price discrimination, 3 times the amount of any excessive price demanded and paid by reason of that unlawful discrimination;
(7) An order to pay to the victim of unlawful discrimination, other than employment discrimination in the case of a respondent who has more than 14 employees, or, if the commission brings action on behalf of the victim, an order to pay to the victim, the commission or both, civil penal damages not in excess of $20,000 in the case of the first order under this Act against the respondent, not in excess of $50,000 in the case of a 2nd order against the respondent arising under the same subchapter of this Act and not in excess of $100,000 in the case of a 3rd or subsequent order against the respondent arising under the same subchapter of this Act, except that the total amount of civil penal damages awarded in any action filed under this Act may not exceed the limits contained in this subparagraph;
(8) In cases of intentional employment discrimination with respondents who have more than 14 employees, compensatory and punitive damages as provided in this subparagraph.
(a) In an action brought by a complaining party under section 4612 and this section against a respondent who engaged in unlawful intentional discrimination prohibited under sections 4571 to 4575, if the complaining party can not recover under 42 United States Code, Section 1981 (1994), the complaining party may recover compensatory and punitive damages as allowed in this subparagraph in addition to any relief authorized elsewhere in this subsection from the respondent.
(b) When a discriminatory practice involves the provision of a reasonable accommodation, damages may not be awarded under this subparagraph when the covered entity demonstrates good faith efforts, in consultation with the person with the disability who has informed the covered entity that accommodation is needed, to identify and make a reasonable accommodation that would provide that individual with an equally effective opportunity and would not cause an undue hardship on the operation of the business.
(c) A complaining party may recover punitive damages under this subparagraph against a respondent if the complaining party demonstrates that the respondent engaged in a discriminatory practice or discriminatory practices with malice or with reckless indifference to the rights of an aggrieved individual protected by this Act.
(d) Compensatory damages awarded under this subparagraph do not include back pay, interest on back pay or any other type of relief authorized elsewhere under this subsection.
(e) The sum of compensatory damages awarded under this subparagraph for future pecuniary losses, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, other nonpecuniary losses and the amount of punitive damages awarded under this section may not exceed for each complaining party:
(i) In the case of a respondent who has more than 14 and fewer than 101 employees in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, $50,000;
(ii) In the case of a respondent who has more than 100 and fewer than 201 employees in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, $100,000;
(iii) In the case of a respondent who has more than 200 and fewer than 501 employees in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, $300,000; and
(iv) In the case of a respondent who has more than 500 employees in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, $500,000.
(f) Nothing in this subparagraph may be construed to limit the scope of, or the relief available under, 42 United States Code, Section 1981 (1994).
(g) If a complaining party seeks compensatory or punitive damages under this subparagraph, any party may demand a trial by jury, and the court may not inform the jury of the limitations described in division (e).
(h) This subparagraph does not apply to recoveries for a practice that is unlawful only because of its disparate impact.
(i) Punitive damages may not be included in a judgment or award against a governmental entity, as defined in Title 14, section 8102, subsection 2, or against an employee of a governmental entity based on a claim that arises out of an act or omission occurring within the course or scope of that employee's employment; and
(9) In addition to other remedies in subparagraphs (1) to (8), an order to pay actual damages in the case of discriminatory housing practices. This subparagraph is not intended to limit actual damages available to a plaintiff alleging other discrimination if the remedy of actual damages is otherwise available under this Act;
Sec. A-8. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§3-D, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 146, §1, is amended to read:
Conservation | Allagash Wilderness Waterway Advisory Council | Expenses/Legislative per diem | 12 MRSA §1891 §1890-A |
Sec. A-9. 5 MRSA §18306-A, sub-§1, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 137, §21, is amended to read:
Sec. A-10. 7 MRSA §242, sub-§10, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 456, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. A-11. 9 MRSA §5017, first ¶, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. A, §10, is amended to read:
The commissioner may deny a license, refuse to renew a license or impose the disciplinary sanctions authorized under Title 10, section 8003, subsection 5-A for any of the reasons enumerated in Title 10, section 8003, subsection 5-A, paragraph A.
Sec. A-12. 12 MRSA §685-A, sub-§10, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 105, §1, is amended to read:
Sec. A-13. 12 MRSA §1891, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 146, §3, is reallocated to 12 MRSA §1890-A.
Sec. A-14. 12 MRSA §1891-A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 146, §4, is reallocated to 12 MRSA §1890-B.
Sec. A-15. 12 MRSA §1891-B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 146, §5, is reallocated to 12 MRSA §1890-C.
Sec. A-16. 12 MRSA §6024, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 176, §1 and c. 240, Pt. QQ, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-17. 12 MRSA §6434, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2007, c. 201, §15 and c. 283, §3, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Restitution imposed under this subsection is in addition to any penalty imposed under subsection 3-A.
Sec. A-18. 12 MRSA §11224, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 454, §1, is reallocated to 12 MRSA §11226.
Sec. A-19. 13-B MRSA §1401, sub-§35, as amended by PL 2007, c. 231, §18 and c. 323, Pt. B, §34 and affected by c. 323, Pt. G, §4, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-20. Effective date. That section of this Act that repeals and replaces the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 13-B, section 1401, subsection 35 takes effect July 1, 2008.
Sec. A-21. 15 MRSA §3314, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 96, §6, is further amended to read:
Modification of probation is governed by the procedures contained in Title 17-A, section 1202, subsection 2. Termination of probation is governed by the procedures contained in Title 17-A, section 1202, subsection 3. Revocation of probation is governed by the procedures contained in Title 17-A, sections 1205, 1205-B, 1205-C and 1206, except that this subsection governs the court's determinations concerning probable cause and continued detention and those provisions of Title 17-A, section 1206, subsection 7-A allowing a vacating of part of the suspension of execution apply only to a suspended fine under subsection 1, paragraph G or a suspended period of confinement under paragraph H . A suspended commitment under subsection 1, paragraph F may be modified to a disposition under subsection 1, paragraph H. When a revocation of probation results in the imposition of a disposition under subsection 1, paragraph F or a period of confinement under subsection 1, paragraph H, the court shall determine whether reasonable efforts have been made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the juvenile from the juvenile's home or that no reasonable efforts are necessary because of the existence of an aggravating factor as defined in Title 22, section 4002, subsection 1-B and whether continuation in the juvenile's home would be contrary to the welfare of the juvenile. This determination does not affect whether the court orders a particular disposition upon a revocation of probation. If the juvenile is being detained for an alleged violation of probation, the court shall review within 48 hours following the detention, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, the decision to detain the juvenile. Following that review, the court shall order the juvenile's release unless the court finds that there is probable cause to believe that the juvenile has violated a condition of probation and finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that continued detention is necessary to meet one of the purposes of detention under section 3203-A, subsection 4, paragraph C. When a court orders continued detention, the court shall determine whether reasonable efforts have been made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the juvenile from the juvenile's home or that no reasonable efforts are necessary because of the existence of an aggravating factor as defined in Title 22, section 4002, subsection 1-B and whether continuation in the juvenile's home would be contrary to the welfare of the juvenile. This determination does not affect whether the court orders continued detention.
Sec. A-22. 17-A MRSA §16, sub-§2, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 466, Pt. B, §11 and affected by §12, is amended to read:
Sec. A-23. 17-A MRSA §1110, sub-§1-C, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 346, Pt. B, §3, is amended to read:
Sec. A-24. 20-A MRSA §401, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 200, §1 and repealed and replaced by c. 466, Pt. B, §14 and affected by §15, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-25. 20-A MRSA §1506, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13, is amended to read:
Allocations between members of the original education unit to pay the debt service for the existing debt must be made on the basis of the cost-sharing formula of the original education unit in effect on July 1, 2007, as applied to the year of allocation. In the case of state-subsidized debt service, the provisions of subsection 3 apply. Amounts to pay the debt service on the existing debt of the original education units must be included in the budget that the regional school unit board of a new unit submits for approval. If the original education unit is divided between different new units that have not agreed to assume liability to pay the existing debt, the commissioner shall require that the reorganization plan of one of those new units provide for that new unit to serve as agent for purposes of the existing debt of the original education unit. That new unit, as agent, has the authority provided by this subsection, except that the new unit shall notify the other new units containing members of the original education unit of the amounts they must assess and collect from their members who were members of the original education unit, and those other new units shall perform the functions in subsection 4, paragraphs C and D with respect to their members, and shall pay the appropriate amounts over to the new unit serving as agent.
Sec. A-26. 20-A MRSA §15696, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §33, is amended to read:
Sec. A-27. 21-A MRSA §1018, as amended by PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §19, is repealed.
Sec. A-28. 22 MRSA §10-A, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 634, §10, is amended to read:
§ 10-A. Coordination and reporting on expenditure of funds pertaining to homeland security and bioterrorism prevention
The Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention shall coordinate in a mutually agreed upon manner with the Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency within the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management on the planning and expenditure of all federal funds received by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention for homeland security emergency preparedness purposes or for the prevention of bioterrorism and provide a report annually, beginning December 15, 2006, to the Homeland Security Advisory Council established in Title 37-B, section 709 708. The advisor for the Homeland Security Advisory Council shall report by January 15th of each year, beginning in 2007, on the expenditure of such funds to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters. The report must include, but is not limited to, the amount of funds expended in the prior year, the purpose of those expenditures, the effect of those expenditures on homeland security and bioterrorism prevention and the plans for coordination with the Maine Emergency Management Agency for the expenditure of the funds received or anticipated for such purposes in the 2 years following submission of the report.
Sec. A-29. 22 MRSA §2685, sub-§2, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 327, §1, is amended to read:
Sec. A-30. 22 MRSA §8702, sub-§8-B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 136, §1, is amended to read:
Sec. A-31. 22 MRSA §8702, sub-§11, as amended by PL 2007, c. 136, §1 and c. 240, Pt. VV, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-32. 22 MRSA §8824, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 450, Pt. A, §8, is amended to read:
Sec. A-33. 24-A MRSA §2847-M, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 452, §3, is reallocated to 24-A MRSA §2847-N.
Sec. A-34. 24-A MRSA §4253, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 452, §4, is reallocated to 24-A MRSA §4254.
Sec. A-35. 25 MRSA §2001, as amended by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. B, §§36 and 37 and affected by c. 614, §9 and repealed by c. 452, Pt. N, §1 and affected by Pt. X, §2, is repealed.
Sec. A-36. 26 MRSA §629, as amended by PL 2007, c. 357, §1 and repealed and replaced by c. 415, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 629. Unfair agreements
Sec. A-37. 26 MRSA §2171-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 114, §19, is amended to read:
Sec. A-38. 29-A MRSA §456-D, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 456, §3 and corrected by RR 2007, c. 1, §13, is reallocated to 29-A MRSA §456-E.
Sec. A-39. 29-A MRSA §468, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. LLLL, §3, is further amended to read:
Sec. A-40. 29-A MRSA §1972, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 544, §1, is amended to read:
Sec. A-41. 30-A MRSA §4211, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. C, §106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is further amended to read:
Sec. A-42. 32 MRSA §1202, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 398, §1 and c. 402, Pt. I, §12, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
(1) Complete at least 8,000 hours of service as an apprentice or helper electrician or at least 8,000 hours of experience in electrical installations, as defined in section 1101, and satisfactorily complete a program of study comprising 576 hours as approved by the Electricians' Examining Board or from an accredited institution. The 576 hours shall consist of 225 hours of required study, including an approved course of not less than 45 hours in the current National Electrical Code; and 351 hours of elective study, comprised of all trade-related electives or 225 hours of trade-related courses and 135 hours of degree-related courses;
(2) Be a graduate of an accredited regional applied technology high school 2-year electrical program, have worked for 8,000 hours in the field of electrical installations under the supervision of a master electrician or the equivalent and have completed a course of not less than 45 hours in the current National Electrical Code, the course to be approved by the board;
(3) Be a graduate of an accredited community college electrical program or a vocational-electrical program of the Department of Corrections, have worked for 4,000 hours in the field of electrical installations under the supervision of a master electrician or the equivalent and have completed a course of not less than 45 hours in the current National Electrical Code, the course to be approved by the board. Persons qualifying under this paragraph may sit for the journeyman's examination upon graduation if application is made within one year of graduation; or
(4) Be an electrical apprentice registered with the State Apprenticeship and Training Council and have completed 576 hours of related instruction, as defined in this paragraph, prescribed in their apprenticeship program, the 8,000-hour approved program and a course of not less than 45 hours in the current National Electrical Code, the course to be approved by the board. Persons qualifying under this paragraph may sit for the journeyman's examination after completion of the 576 hours of instruction if application is made within one year of the completion of the instruction.
Sec. A-43. 32 MRSA §12228, as amended by PL 2007, c. 384, §§3 to 8 and c. 402, Pt. Z, §11, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 12228. Certified public accountants; qualifications
Sec. A-44. 32 MRSA §12252, as amended by PL 2007, c. 384, §§11 to 13 and c. 402, Pt. Z, §17, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 12252. Licenses; firms
(1) Has an office in this State performing any of the services described in section 12201, subsection 3-A, paragraphs A to D;
(2) Has an office in this State that uses the title "CPA" or "CPA firm"; or
(3) Does not have an office in this State but performs any of the services described in section 12201, subsection 3-A, paragraphs A, C or D for a client having its home office in this State.
(1) It qualifies for a firm license pursuant to subsections 3 and 8; and
(2) It performs such services through an individual with practice privileges under section 12251, subsection 4-B.
(1) Performs such services through an individual with practice privileges under section 12251, subsection 4-B; and
(2) Has legal authority to perform such services in the state of that individual's principal place of business.
(1) All nonlicensee owners are individuals who actively participate in the certified public accountancy firm or public accountancy firm;
(2) The firm complies with such other requirements as the board may impose by rule; and
(3) The firm designates an individual who is a licensee of this State or, in the case of a firm that must have a license pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph A, subparagraph (3), designates an individual who is a licensee of another state who meets the requirements set out in section 12251, subsection 4-B, paragraph A who is responsible for the proper registration of the firm and identifies that individual who is a licensee to the board.
The board is authorized to adopt rules to carry out the intent of this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. A-45. 32 MRSA §17104, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 and affected by §5, is amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:
An individual who is enrolled in a course of study leading to a degree in speech-language pathology or audiology at an accredited college or accredited university is exempt as long as such activities and services constitute a part of the course of study.
Sec. A-46. 32 MRSA §17104, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 369, Pt. C, §3 and affected by §5, is repealed.
Sec. A-47. 34-B MRSA §5438, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. OO, §2, is reallocated to 34-B MRSA §5439.
Sec. A-48. 35-A MRSA §10008, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 317, §15, is amended to read:
Sec. A-49. 36 MRSA §581, as amended by PL 2007, c. 425, §1 and repealed and replaced by c. 438, §18, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 581. Withdrawal
(1) If the land was subject to valuation under this subchapter for 10 years or less prior to the date of withdrawal, the rate is 30%; and
(2) If the land was subject to valuation under this subchapter for more than 10 years prior to the date of withdrawal, the rate is that percentage obtained by subtracting 1% from 30% for each full year beyond 10 years that the land was subject to valuation under this subchapter prior to the date of withdrawal, except that the minimum rate is 20%.
For purposes of this subsection, just value at the time of withdrawal is the assessed just value of comparable property in the municipality adjusted by the municipality's certified assessment ratio.
Sec. A-50. 36 MRSA §693, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 435, §1 and c. 437, §9, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
All notices and requests provided pursuant to this subsection must be made by personal delivery or certified mail and must conspicuously state the consequences of the taxpayer's failure to respond to the notice or request in a timely manner.
If an exemption has already been accepted and the State Tax Assessor subsequently determines that the property is not entitled to exemption, a supplemental assessment must be made within 3 years of the original assessment date with respect to the property in compliance with section 713, without regard to the limitations contained in that section regarding the justification necessary for a supplemental assessment.
Sec. A-51. 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§90, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 438, §47, is reallocated to 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§91.
Sec. A-52. 36 MRSA §1811, first ¶, as amended by PL 2007, c. 410, §5 and affected by §6 and amended by c. 444, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
A tax is imposed on the value of all tangible personal property and taxable services sold at retail in this State. The rate of tax is 7% on the value of liquor sold in licensed establishments as defined in Title 28-A, section 2, subsection 15, in accordance with Title 28-A, chapter 43; 7% on the value of rental of living quarters in any hotel, rooming house or tourist or trailer camp; 10% on the value of rental for a period of less than one year of an automobile, including a loaner vehicle that is provided other than to a motor vehicle dealer's service customers pursuant to a manufacturer’s or dealer’s warranty; 7% on the value of prepared food; and 5% on the value of all other tangible personal property and taxable services. Value is measured by the sale price, except as otherwise provided. As used in this section, “loaner vehicle” has the same meaning as in section 1752, subsection 11, paragraph B, subparagraph (8). The value of rental for a period of less than one year of an automobile is the total rental charged to the lessee and includes, but is not limited to, maintenance and service contracts, drop-off or pick-up fees, airport surcharges, mileage fees and any separately itemized charges on the rental agreement to recover the owner’s estimated costs of the charges imposed by government authority for title fees, inspection fees, local excise tax and agent fees on all vehicles in its rental fleet registered in the State. All fees must be disclosed when an estimated quote is provided to the lessee.
Sec. A-53. 36 MRSA §2521-A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. KKKK, §5 and affected by §7 and amended by c. 437, §12 and affected by §22, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 2521-A. Returns; payment of tax
Every insurance company, association, producer or attorney-in-fact of a reciprocal insurer subject to the tax imposed by this chapter shall on or before the last day of each April, the 25th day of each June and the last day of each October file with the State Tax Assessor on forms prescribed by the assessor a return for the quarter ending on the last day of the preceding calendar month, except for the return due on the 25th day of June, which is for the quarter ending June 30th. A final return must be filed on or before March 15th, covering the prior calendar year. The 3 quarterly returns may be on an estimated basis, as long as each April and June installment equals 35% of the total tax paid for the preceding calendar year or at least 35% of the total tax to be paid for the current calendar year and each October installment equals 15% of the total tax paid for the preceding calendar year or at least 15% of the total tax to be paid for the current calendar year.
At the time of filing the returns, each insurance company, association, producer or attorney-in-fact of a reciprocal insurer shall pay to the assessor the amount of tax shown due.
Insurance companies, associations, producers or attorneys-in-fact of a reciprocal insurer whose annual tax liability under this chapter does not exceed $1,000 may file an annual return with payment on or before March 15th covering the prior calendar year.
Sec. A-54. 36 MRSA §4641-B, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. H, §1 and c. 427, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-55. 36 MRSA §6254, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 534, Pt. C, §1 and repealed and replaced by c. 713, §4, is amended to read:
When the circumstances listed in section 6259, subsection 4 occur, the amount of deferred taxes is due and payable 5 days before the date of removal of the property from the State.
If the deferred tax liability of a property has not been satisfied by the April 30th demand date, the State Tax Assessor shall, within 30 days, record in the registry of deeds in the county where the real estate is located a tax lien certificate signed by the State Tax Assessor or bearing the assessor's facsimile signature, setting forth the total amount of deferred tax liability, a description of the real estate on which the tax was deferred and an allegation that a tax lien is claimed on the real estate to secure payment of the tax, that a demand for payment of the tax has been made in accordance with this section and that the tax remains unpaid.
At the time of the recording of the tax lien certificate in the registry of deeds, the State Tax Assessor shall send by certified mail, return receipt requested, to each record holder of a mortgage on the real estate, to the holder's last known address, a true copy of the tax lien certificate. The cost to be paid by the property owner, or the owner's heirs or devisees, is the sum of the fees for recording and discharging of the lien as established by Title 33, section 751, subsection 10, plus $13. Upon redemption, the State Tax Assessor shall prepare and record a discharge of the tax lien mortgage. The lien described in section 552 is the basis of this tax lien mortgage procedure.
The filing of the tax lien certificate, provided for in this section, in the registry of deeds creates a mortgage on the real estate to the State and has priority over all other mortgages, liens, attachments and encumbrances of any nature and gives to the State all rights usually instant to a mortgage, except that the mortgagee does not have any right of possession of the real estate until the right of redemption expires.
Payments accepted during the redemption period may not interrupt or extend the redemption period or in any way affect the foreclosure procedures.
Sec. A-56. 36 MRSA §6651, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 372, §1 and c. 437, §21, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-57. PL 2007, c. 146, §7 is amended to read:
Sec. 7. Staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 1891 1890-A, subsection 4 and in order to ensure a certain level of continuity of service on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Advisory Council, the Commissioner of Conservation Governor shall, in making the initial appointments for the advisory council, appoint 2 members to 3-year terms, 2 members to 4-year terms and 2 members to 5-year terms. The legislative committee approval requirements of Title 12, section 1891, subsection 3 apply to initial and subsequent appointments. An initial term of 3 or 4 years is considered a full term for purposes of calculating the term limitation in Title 12, section 1891 1890-A, subsection 4.
Sec. A-58. PL 2007, c. 273, Pt. B, §7 is repealed.
Sec. B-7. Effective date. This Part takes effect when approved.
Sec. A-59. PL 2007, c. 356, §31 is amended to read:
Sec. 31. Effective dates. This Act takes effect November 1, 2007, except that the following sections take effect upon elimination of the Consumer Advisory Board pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-B, section 1216, subsection 4:
1. Those sections That section of this Act that repeal Title 3, section 959, subsection 1, paragraph F, and repeals Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 61;
2. That section Those sections of this Act that amends amend Title 3, section 959, subsection 1, paragraph F and Title 34-B, section 5605, subsection 13, paragraph B; and
3. Those sections of this Act that enact Title 5, section 12004-J, subsection 15 and Title 34-B, section 1223.
Sec. A-60. PL 2007, c. 377, §17 is amended to read:
Sec. 17. Effective date. That section of this Act that enacts the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-A, section 1210-B takes effect July 1, 2008. Those sections of this Act that amend Title 4, section 116; Title 4, section 163, subsection 1; Title 30-A, section 1658; and Title 34 34-A, section 1214, subsection 1 and subsection 3, paragraph B take effect July 1, 2008.
Sec. A-61. PL 2007, c. 440, §7, amending clause is amended to read:
Sec. 7. 22 MRSA §332, as amended by PL 2001, c. 710, §9 and affected by §10, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
PART B
Sec. B-1. 7 MRSA §508, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2005, c. 512, §26, is further amended to read:
Sec. B-2. 10 MRSA §1141, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 261, is amended to read:
Sec. B-3. 10 MRSA §9041, first ¶, as amended by PL 1991, c. 714, §4, is further amended to read:
The board shall adopt rules and establish standards as provided by section 9005 9005-A to administer and enforce this subchapter.
Sec. B-4. 22 MRSA §2383-B, sub-§3, ¶C, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 499, §3 and affected by §5, is amended to read:
Sec. B-5. 26 MRSA §682, sub-§8, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 536, §§1 and 2 and affected by c. 604, §§2 and 3, is amended to read:
Sec. B-6. 32 MRSA §552, last ¶, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 262, Pt. A, §4, is amended to read:
The board may waive the examination requirements and grant a license to any applicant who presents proof of being licensed to practice in another jurisdiction of the United States or another country whose licensing requirements are considered by the board to be substantially equivalent to or higher than those set forth in this chapter, if no cause exists for denial of a license under section 503-A 503-B or Title 10, section 8003, subsection 5-A, paragraph A. The applicant shall pay the required license fee as set under section 558.
Sec. B-7. 32 MRSA §1071, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §56, is further amended to read:
Sec. B-8. 32 MRSA §1301, 2nd ¶, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §103, is further amended to read:
Appointments are for 5-year terms. Appointments of members must comply with Title 10, section 60 8009.
Sec. B-9. 32 MRSA §2151, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §120, is further amended to read:
§ 2151. Appointment; term; removal
The State Board of Nursing, as established by Title 5, section 12004-A, subsection 25, consists of 9 members who are appointed by the Governor. A full-term appointment is for 4 years. Appointment of members must comply with Title 10, section 60 8009. Members of the board may be removed from office for cause by the Governor.
Sec. B-10. 32 MRSA §2415, as amended by PL 1995, c. 606, §2, is further amended to read:
§ 2415. Appointment; tenure; vacancies; removal
The State Board of Optometry, as established by Title 5, section 12004-A, subsection 28 and in this chapter called the "board," consists of 6 persons appointed by the Governor. Five of the appointees must have been resident optometrists engaged in the actual practice of optometry in this State for a period of at least 5 years prior to their appointment and after the 1999 renewal they must hold advanced therapeutic licenses. One of the appointees must be a consumer member who is a resident of this State and has no pecuniary interest in optometry or in the merchandising of optical products. Appointment is for a term of 5 years. Appointments of members must comply with Title 10, section 60 8009. A member of the board may be removed from office for cause by the Governor. The board has a common seal.
Sec. B-11. 32 MRSA §3263, first ¶, as amended by PL 1997, c. 680, Pt. C, §1, is further amended to read:
The Board of Licensure in Medicine, as established by Title 5, section 12004-A, subsection 24, and in this chapter called the "board," consists of 9 individuals who are residents of this State, appointed by the Governor. Three individuals must be representatives of the public. Six individuals must be graduates of a legally chartered medical college or university having authority to confer degrees in medicine and must have been actively engaged in the practice of their profession in this State for a continuous period of 5 years preceding their appointments to the board. A full-term appointment is for 6 years. Appointment of members must comply with Title 10, section 60 8009. A member of the board may be removed from office for cause by the Governor.
Sec. B-12. 32 MRSA §3651-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. P, §7, is further amended to read:
Sec. B-13. 32 MRSA §3651-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. P, §8, is further amended to read:
Sec. B-14. 32 MRSA §6220, as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 347, §23 and affected by §25, is amended to read:
§ 6220. Endorsement
The board may waive the requirements of this chapter and grant a registration, certificate or license to any applicant who presents proof of authorization to practice by another jurisdiction of the United States or another country that maintains professional standards considered by the board to be substantially equivalent to or higher than those set forth in this chapter, as long as there is no cause for denial of a registration, certificate or license under section 6217-A 6217-B or Title 10, section 8003, subsection 5-A, paragraph A. The applicant must pay the application and license fee as set under section 6215.
Sec. B-15. 32 MRSA §12274, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. Z, §22, is further amended to read:
Sec. B-16. 32 MRSA §12278, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 489, §2, is amended to read:
§ 12278. Single act evidence of practice
In any action brought under section 12273 12273-A or 12277 or Title 10, section 8003, subsection 5-A, evidence from the commission of a single act prohibited by this chapter shall be is sufficient to justify a penalty, injunction, restraining order or conviction, respectively, without evidence of a general course of conduct.
Sec. B-17. 32 MRSA §12279, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 489, §2, is amended to read:
§ 12279. Confidential communications
Except by permission of the client engaging a licensee under this chapter, or the heirs, successors or personal representatives of that client, a licensee or any partner, officer, shareholder or employee of a licensee shall may not voluntarily disclose information communicated to him the licensee, or any partner, officer, shareholder or employee of the licensee, by the client relating to, and in connection with, services rendered to the client by the licensee in the practice of public accountancy. That information shall must be considered confidential , provided that as long as nothing may be construed as prohibiting the disclosure of information required to be disclosed by the standards of the public accounting profession in reporting on the examination of financial statements or as prohibiting disclosures in court proceedings, investigations or proceedings under section 12273 12273-A or Title 10, section 8003, subsection 5-A, in ethical investigations conducted by private professional organizations or in the course of quality reviews.
Sec. B-18. 32 MRSA §13795, sub-§5, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 430, §7 and affected by §10, is amended to read:
Sec. B-19. 32 MRSA §13863, sub-§6, as repealed and replaced by PL 1991, c. 548, Pt. A, §25, is amended to read:
Sec. B-20. 32 MRSA §15104-B, last ¶, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 573, Pt. A, §2, is amended to read:
A person who is or will be aggrieved by the application of any law, code or rule relating to the installation or alteration of boilers and pressure vessels may file a petition for a variance, whether compliance with that provision is required at the time of filing or at the time that provision becomes effective. The filing fee for a petition for a variance must be set by the Director of the Office of Licensing and Registration under section 15109, subsection 9 15104-C. The chief inspector may grant a variance if, owing to conditions especially affecting the particular boiler or pressure vessel involved, the enforcement of any law, code or rule relating to boilers or pressure vessels would do manifest injustice or cause substantial hardship, financial or otherwise, to the petitioner or would be unreasonable under the circumstances , provided that as long as desirable relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without nullifying or substantially derogating from the intent or purpose of that law, code or rule. In granting a variance under this section, the chief inspector may impose limitations both of time and of use, and a continuation of the use permitted may be conditioned upon compliance with rules made and amended from time to time. A copy of the decision must be sent to all interested parties.
Sec. B-21. 32 MRSA §15108-A, as amended by PL 2001, c. 323, §35, is further amended to read:
§ 15108-A. Boiler and pressure vessel inspectors
The board shall issue a license as a boiler inspector upon payment of an application fee and license fee under section 15109, subsection 9 15104-C set by the director to any person who files an application and meets the qualifications as specified by rule. The board shall issue a license as a boiler inspector upon payment of an application fee and license fee to any person who files an application and holds a certificate as an inspector of steam boilers from a state that has a standard of licensing equal to that of this State or a certification from the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors, or its successor organization.
Sec. B-22. 32 MRSA §15117, first ¶, as amended by PL 2001, c. 573, Pt. A, §5, is further amended to read:
Each boiler or pressure vessel used or proposed for use within this State, except boilers or pressure vessels exempt under section 15102, must be thoroughly inspected by the chief inspector, a deputy inspector or an authorized inspector, as to its design, construction, installation, condition and operation. The board shall adopt rules pursuant to the Maine Administrative Procedure Act specifying the method and frequency of inspection. When any boiler or pressure vessel inspected as specified by the board is found to be suitable and to conform to the rules of the board, the chief inspector shall issue to the owner or user of that boiler or pressure vessel, upon payment of a fee to the board, an inspection certificate for each boiler or pressure vessel. The fee under section 15109, subsection 9 15104-C must be set by the director. Inspection certificates must specify the maximum pressure that the boiler or pressure vessel inspected is allowed to carry. The inspection certificate may be valid for not more than 14 months from the date of inspection in the case of boilers and 38 months from the date of inspection in the case of pressure vessels and must be posted under glass in the engine or boiler room containing the boiler or pressure vessel or an engine operated by it or, in the case of a portable boiler, in the office of the plant where it is temporarily located. The board may adopt rules setting forth criteria by which a temporary extension of an inspection certificate beyond 14 months in the case of boilers and beyond 38 months in the case of pressure vessels may be authorized. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A 2-A.
Sec. B-23. 38 MRSA §89, as amended by PL 1999, c. 355, §9, is further amended to read:
§ 89. Maine Pilotage Commission members
The Maine Pilotage Commission, as established by Title 5, section 12004-A, subsection 40, consists of 7 members who are citizens of the United States and the State of Maine appointed by the Governor as follows: Three licensed pilots who are actively piloting, one member from each of the coastal zones; 2 members who are not licensed pilots but are from a maritime industry that utilizes the services of pilots; and 2 members representing the public who are not licensed pilots but have a maritime background. Appointments are for 3-year terms. Appointments of members must comply with Title 32 10, section 60 8009. The members of the commission are entitled to compensation according to Title 5, chapter 379.
Sec. B-24. 39-A MRSA §206, sub-§11, as amended by PL 2001, c. 60, §1, is further amended to read:
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved, except as otherwise indicated.
SUMMARY
Part A does the following.
Section 1 corrects a numbering problem created by Public Law 2007, chapters 27 and 28, which enacted 2 substantively different provisions with the same section number.
Section 2 corrects an error in the laws governing explanations of constitutional resolutions and statewide referenda by providing that the estimate of the fiscal impact of resolutions and referenda prepared by the Office of Fiscal and Program Review must include the aggregate impact that a resolution or referendum has on the amounts distributed by the State to local units of government.
Sections 3 and 4 correct a clerical error by adding a conjunction between 2 lettered paragraphs and adding a period at the end of a sentence.
Section 5 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 240 and 273, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 6 adds the Maine Public Employees Retirement System to the list of agencies that the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters shall review in 2013. The Maine Public Employees Retirement System is the successor to the Maine State Retirement System. Public Law 2007, chapter 58 changed the name of the Maine State Retirement System to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System.
Section 7 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 243 and 457, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 8 corrects a cross-reference to a section that is reallocated in this bill.
Section 9 corrects a cross-reference.
Section 10 corrects a cross-reference in connection with the reallocation of a provision of law in this bill.
Section 11 corrects a clerical error by adding words that were inadvertently omitted.
Section 12 corrects a cross-reference.
Sections 13 to 15 correct a numbering problem created by Public Law 2007, chapters 146 and 240, which enacted substantively different provisions with the same section numbers.
Section 16 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 176 and 240, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 17 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 201 and 283, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 18 corrects a numbering problem created by Public Law 2007, chapters 168 and 454, which enacted 2 substantively different provisions with the same section number.
Section 19 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 231 and 323, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws, and section 20 provides an effective date of July 1, 2008 for the corrected provision.
Section 21 corrects a punctuation and grammatical error.
Section 22 corrects a cross-reference and punctuation.
Section 23 corrects a cross-reference.
Section 24 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 200 and 466, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 25 corrects a cross-reference.
Section 26 corrects a cross-reference.
Section 27 repeals the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 21-A, section 1018 to reflect the intent of Public Law 2007, chapter 443, Part A, section 19.
Section 28 corrects a cross-reference.
Section 29 corrects a cross-reference.
Section 30 corrects a cross-reference.
Section 31 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 136 and 240, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 32 removes an inaccurate cross-reference.
Section 33 corrects a numbering problem created by Public Law 2007, chapters 448 and 452, which enacted 2 substantively different provisions with the same section number.
Section 34 corrects a numbering problem created by Public Law 2007, chapters 448 and 452, which enacted 2 substantively different provisions with the same section number.
Section 35 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2003, chapter 414, which made technical changes and corrected cross-references in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 25, section 2001 and chapter 452, which repealed Title 25, section 2001. This section corrects the conflict by repealing Title 25, section 2001.
Section 36 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 357 and 415, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 37 corrects a cross-reference.
Section 38 corrects a numbering problem created by Public Law 2007, chapters 229 and 456, which enacted 2 substantively different provisions of law with the same section number.
Section 39 corrects a cross-reference.
Section 40 corrects a cross-reference.
Section 41 corrects a cross-reference and corrects a grammatical error.
Section 42 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 398 and 402, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 43 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 384 and 402, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws. It also corrects a clerical error and a grammatical error.
Section 44 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 384 and 402, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Sections 45 and 46 correct a formatting error.
Section 47 corrects a numbering problem created by Public Law 2007, chapters 152 and 240, which enacted 2 substantively different provisions with the same section number.
Section 48 corrects a clerical error.
Section 49 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 425 and 438, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 50 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 435 and 437, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 51 corrects a numbering problem created by Public Law 2007, chapters 429 and 438, which enacted 2 substantively different provisions with the same section number.
Section 52 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 410 and 444, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 53 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 240 and 437, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 54 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 240 and 427, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 55 corrects a cross-reference.
Section 56 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 372 and 437, which affected the same provision of law, by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 57 corrects the provision of law that provides for staggered terms for the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Advisory Council to reflect the appointment requirements for the council. This section also corrects cross-references to a section reallocated in this bill.
Section 58 removes an ineffective effective date provision since Public Law 2007, chapter 273 was not an emergency enactment.
Section 59 changes an effective date section to clarify which sections of Public Law 2007, chapter 356 are amended and which one has been repealed and when the changes made by the public law take effect.
Section 60 corrects a cross-reference.
Section 61 corrects an amending clause.
Part B corrects cross-references pursuant to Public Law 2007, chapter 273, Part A, section 38 and chapter 402, Part OO, section 1.