Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Expend Funds for Fisheries and Waterfront Initiatives

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 120th Legislature appropriated $1,000,000 from the proceeds of the sale of the Portland Drydock for certain purposes identified in Public Law 2001, chapter 83, Part A, section 6; and

Whereas,  the identified purposes included the establishment of a dredging and marine infrastructure loan fund; and

Whereas,  the Department of Transportation executed a Letter of Agreement with Coastal Enterprises, Inc. granting to that entity $1,000,000 to administer its working waterfront loan fund to be used in Portland Harbor; and

Whereas,  the fund has never achieved the goals originally identified; and

Whereas,  the original intent of the fund would be best served by expanding the availability of the funds to other users for other purposes; 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, be it

Sec. 1. Working Waterfront Loan Fund. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Public Law 2001, chapter 83, Part A, section 6, the uses of Coastal Enterprises, Inc.'s working waterfront loan fund must be expanded beyond the uses identified in Public Law 2001, chapter 83, Part A, section 6. The Department of Transportation shall enter into an agreement with Coastal Enterprises, Inc. under which $500,000 of the working waterfront loan fund is returned to the department for allocation to the Portland Fish Pier Authority for capital improvements and the remaining amount in the fund is made available to Coastal Enterprises, Inc. for use in fisheries and waterfront initiatives along the State's coast; and be it further

Sec. 2. Amend agreement. Resolved: That the Department of Transportation shall terminate its current agreement for the administration of Coastal Enterprises, Inc.'s working waterfront loan fund, as contained in the Letter of Agreement between the Department of Transportation and Coastal Enterprises, Inc., dated August 30, 2001 and amended on October 30, 2002, to carry out the intent of this legislation; and be it further

Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Transportation shall report back to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation no later than November 15, 2007 on its efforts to carry out the intent of this legislation; and be it further

Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.

TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF

Ports and Marine Transportation 0323

Initiative: Allocates funds on a one-time basis to provide a grant to the Portland Fish Pier Authority for capital improvements.

MARINE PORTS FUND	2007-08	2008-09
All Other	$500,000	$0
MARINE PORTS FUND TOTAL	$500,000	$0

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.