Resolve, To Reclaim Past Unredeemed Beverage Container Deposits

Sec. 1. Abandoned deposits; 15-year audit. Resolved: That the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability shall audit abandoned deposit amounts on all beverage containers as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, chapter 28 for the 15 years preceding the effective date of this resolve. The goal of the audit is to estimate abandoned deposit amounts that remain unaccounted for because of commingling agreements and to identify an estimated amount for each initiator of deposits; and be it further

Sec. 2. Assessment; payment; penalty. Resolved: That the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall assess against initiators of deposits the amounts estimated pursuant to the audit conducted under section 1. An initiator shall pay the assessment under this section, plus interest, within 60 days of notice from the department of the assessment amount. Failure to pay within 60 days results in a fine of $10,000 per day. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 1866-E, any money collected by operation of this section must be deposited in the General Fund and credited to the Beverage Container Enforcement Fund established under Title 32, section 1871-B.

summary

This resolve seeks to recapture unredeemed or abandoned deposits from beverage containers subject to commingling agreements. Specifically, the resolves requires the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability to conduct an audit to estimate deposit amounts unaccounted for during the last 15 years and requires initiators of deposits to pay the estimates, plus interest, within 60 days of notice from the department. Failure to pay will result in a daily fine added to the assessment.