‘Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §1866, sub-§4, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 499, §6, is amended to read:
C. The reimbursement that the initiator of the deposit is obligated to pay the dealer or redemption center pursuant to paragraph A or B must be reduced by 1/2¢ 3/4¢ for any returned container that is subject to a qualified commingling agreement that allows the dealer or redemption center to commingle beverage containers of like product group, material and size. A commingling agreement is qualified for purposes of this paragraph if the department determines that 50% or more of the beverage containers of like product group, material and size for which the deposits are being initiated in the State are covered by the commingling agreement. Once the initiator of deposit has established a qualified commingling agreement for containers of a like product group, material and size, the department shall allow additional brands to be included from a different product group if they are of like material. The State, through the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations, shall make every reasonable effort to enter into a qualified commingling agreement under this subparagraph paragraph with every other initiator of deposits for beverage containers that are of like product group, size and material as the beverage containers for which the State is the initiator of deposit.
Sec. 5. Effective date. That section of this Act that amends the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 1866, subsection 4, paragraph C takes effect March 1, 2008.’