An Act To Create the Endangered or Threatened Marine Species Fund
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6978 is enacted to read:
§ 6978. Endangered or Threatened Marine Species Fund
The Endangered or Threatened Marine Species Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established within the department.
1. Sources. The commissioner may receive donations and funding from any source on behalf of the fund.
2. Purpose; use of fund. The purpose of the fund is to support activities related to the management of endangered or threatened marine species. All money received into the fund must be used for the purposes of the fund.
3. Interest and balances credited to fund. Any interest earned on the money in the fund must be credited to the fund. Unexpended balances in the fund at the end of the fiscal year do not lapse but must be carried forward to the next fiscal year and credited to the fund to be used for the purposes of this section.
summary
This bill allows the Department of Marine Resources to accept donations of equipment and funding from any source to assist with its work on behalf of endangered or threatened marine species.