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 A-1. 3 MRSA §753, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. U, §1, is amended to read:
§ 753. Expenses
All administrative operating expenses of the Maine Legislative Retirement System Program must be charged to the assets of the Maine Legislative Retirement System Program.
Sec. A-2. 4 MRSA §1301, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 853, Pt. C, §§15 and 18, is amended to read:
Every judge serving on the court on or after December 1, 1984 , shall must be a member of the Maine Judicial Retirement System Program as a condition of employment.
Sec. A-3. 4 MRSA §1357, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2007, c. 491, §58 and c. 523, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
(1) The date of the new beneficiary's death; or
(2) The date established when the amount of the prior beneficiary's benefit was established, which is the initial commencement date of benefits to the retiree increased by the life expectancy of the prior beneficiary computed in years and months using actuarial equivalence assumptions recommended by the system's actuary.
Payment of benefits to the new beneficiary must cease as of the first day of the month following the earlier of subparagraph (1) or (2).
Sec. A-4. 5 MRSA §7051, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2007, c. 466, Pt. A, §15, is further amended to read:
Sec. A-5. 5 MRSA §18252, as amended by PL 2007, c. 490, §1 and c. 491, §191, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 18252. Membership in districts with Social Security coverage
A person who is or would be covered by the United States Social Security Act as a result of employment by a participating local district with Social Security coverage may elect to join, not to join, to cease contributions to or to withdraw from the Participating Local District Retirement Program under the following conditions.
(1) The person is entitled to accumulate additional service credits during the period of time the person is restored to service.
(2) When the person again retires, the person is entitled to receive benefits computed on the person's entire creditable service and in accordance with the law in effect at the time.
Sec. A-6. 5 MRSA §18252-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 490, §2 and c. 491, §192, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
(1) If the person elects to be a member under the retirement system, the election is effective as of the date of hire or rehire.
(a) A person who elects to be a member of the retirement system may later elect to be covered under a plan provided by the employer under section 18252-B. The person who so elects may, at that person's discretion, withdraw accumulated contributions in accordance with section 18306-A.
(b) A person who elects under division (a) to be covered under a plan provided by the employer under section 18252-B may later elect to again become a member under the retirement system, unless to so elect would have the effect of requiring the employer, without the employer's agreement, to make an employer contribution to both the retirement system and the plan provided by the employer under section 18252-B.
(c) A person who elects under division (b) to again become a member of the retirement system may, in accordance with section 18305-A, purchase service credit for the period during which the person elected not to be a member of the retirement system. The person may, in accordance with section 18304, repay contributions withdrawn under division (a) and may, as permitted under other relevant retirement system law, rule and policy, repay other refunded contributions.
(d) A person who, having elected to again become a member under the retirement system under division (c), later elects again not to be a member may not thereafter become a member under the retirement system while employed by the same participating local district.
(2) A person who elects to be covered under a plan provided by the employer under section 18252-B may later elect to become a member under the retirement system.
(a) Membership service credit for a person joining the retirement system under this subparagraph begins as of the effective date of first contributions or pick-up contributions to the retirement system following that person's election under this subparagraph.
(b) A person who joins the retirement system under this subparagraph may, in accordance with section 18305-A, purchase service credit for the period during which the person elected not to be a member of the retirement system.
(c) A person who, having elected to become a member under the retirement system under this subparagraph, later elects again not to be a member may, at the employee's discretion, withdraw accumulated contributions in accordance with applicable requirements of law and rule and retirement system procedures and may not thereafter become a member under the retirement system while employed by the same participating local district.
(1) If that person elects not to remain a member, the election is effective as of the first day of the month in which no contributions or pick-up contributions are made to the retirement system by that person. A person who elects not to remain a member may, at that person's discretion, withdraw accumulated contributions in accordance with section 18306-A.
(2) A person who elects not to remain a member under the retirement system may later elect to again become a member.
(a) Membership service credit for a person who elects to again become a member under the retirement system under this subparagraph begins as of the effective date of the first contributions or pick-up contributions to the retirement system following that person's election under this subparagraph.
(b) A person who rejoins the retirement system under this subparagraph may, in accordance with section 18305-A, purchase service credit for the period during which that person elected not to be a member of the retirement system. The person may, in accordance with section 18304, repay contributions refunded under subparagraph (1), unless to so elect would have the effect of requiring the employer, without the employer's agreement, to make an employer contribution to both the retirement system and the plan provided by the employer under section 18252-B.
(c) A person who, having elected to again become a member under the retirement system under this subparagraph, later elects again not to be a member may, at that person's discretion, withdraw accumulated contributions in accordance with section 18306-A and may not thereafter become a member under the retirement system while employed by the same participating local district.
Sec. A-7. 7 MRSA §3916, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 119, §1, is amended to read:
Sec. A-8. 12 MRSA §6702, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2007, c. 607, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. B, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-9. 12 MRSA §10001, sub-§53, as amended by PL 2007, c. 651, §2, is further amended to read:
A person who is a full-time student at a college or university in the State and has satisfied the requirements of paragraphs A to D is rebuttably presumed to be a resident in the State during that period.
Sec. A-10. 13-C MRSA §1331, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 323, Pt. C, §17 and affected by Pt. G, §4, is further amended to read:
Sec. A-11. 14 MRSA §3572, sub-§12, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 641, §3, is amended to read:
Sec. A-12. 22 MRSA §1971, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. EE, §1 and c. 572, Pt. A, §16, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-13. 22 MRSA §3173-C, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2003, c. 451, Pt. H, §1 and affected by §3, is further amended to read:
The department may adopt rules to adjust the copayments set forth in this subsection. The rules may adjust amounts to ensure that copayments are deemed nominal in amount and may include monthly limits or exclusions per service category. The need to maintain provider participation in the Medicaid program to the extent required by 42 United States Code, Section 1392(a)(30)(A) 1396(a)(30)(A) or any successor provision of law must be considered in any reduction in reimbursement to providers or imposition of copayments.
Sec. A-14. 24-A MRSA §3007, sub-§5, ¶B, as amended by PL 2005, c. 114, §4, is further amended to read:
Sec. A-15. 26 MRSA §1419, sub-§1, ¶B-2, as amended by PL 2003, c. 553, Pt. A, §1, is further amended to read:
Sec. A-16. 30-A MRSA §701, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 653, Pt. A, §7 and c. 663, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
The estimates must be drawn so as to authorize the appropriations to be made to each department or agency of the county government for the year. The estimates must provide specific amounts for personal services, contractual services, commodities, debt service and capital expenditures made or provided by the county for noncorrectional-related services. The estimates must include specific amounts for each noncorrectional service expenditure.
Sec. A-17. 31 MRSA §714, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 231, §28 and repealed by c. 323, Pt. D, §19 and affected by Pt. G, §4, is repealed.
Sec. A-18. 32 MRSA §220, sub-§2, ¶B, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 390, §1 and amended by c. 402, Pt. F, §12, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
(1) To be qualified for admission to the examination to practice landscape architecture in this State, an applicant must submit evidence that:
(a) The applicant has completed a course of study in a school or college of landscape architecture approved by the board, with graduation evidenced by a diploma setting forth a satisfactory degree and 2 years of practical experience in landscape architectural work of a grade and character satisfactory to the board; or
(b) The applicant has training or practical experience, or a combination of both, that in the opinion of the board is fully equivalent to that required in division (a).
(2) An applicant for licensure as a landscape architect in this State who has a current and valid license from another jurisdiction and a certificate from a recognized council of landscape architecture registration board may offer to render landscape architectural services in the State prior to licensure by the board as long as the applicant first notifies the board in writing that the applicant will be present in the State to offer to render landscape architectural services. The applicant may not render landscape architectural services until duly licensed by the board.
(3) An applicant for renewal of a license issued pursuant to this section shall submit evidence that the applicant meets the qualifications established by the board.
Sec. A-19. 32 MRSA §1101, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 386, Pt. F, §1, is further amended to read:
Sec. A-20. 32 MRSA §3824, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2007, c. 10, §1 and c. 402, Pt. Q, §8, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-21. 32 MRSA §12251, sub-§4-A, as repealed by PL 2007, c. 384, §9 and amended by c. 402, Pt. Z, §16, is repealed.
Sec. A-22. 32 MRSA §13723, sub-§7, ¶A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 344, §10 and c. 402, Pt. DD, §10, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-23. 32 MRSA §13753, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. DD, §26, is further amended to read:
Sec. A-24. 34-B MRSA §1207, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 609, §1 and c. 670, §17, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-25. 35-A MRSA §3210-C, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2007, c. 575, §2 and c. 656, Pt. B, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
(1) To the extent necessary to fulfill the policy of subsection 2, paragraph A; or
(2) If the commission determines appropriate for purposes of supplying or lowering the cost of standard-offer service or otherwise lowering the cost of electricity for the ratepayers in the State. Available energy contracted pursuant to this subparagraph may be sold into the wholesale electricity market in conjunction with solicitations for standard-offer supply bids.
The commission may direct investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to enter into contracts under this subsection only as agents for their customers and only in accordance with this section. The commission may permit, but may not require, investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to enter into contracts for differences that are designed and intended to buffer ratepayers in the State from potential negative impacts from transmission development. To the greatest extent possible, the commission shall develop procedures for long-term contracts for investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities under this subsection having the same legal and financial effect as the procedures used for standard-offer service pursuant to section 3212 for investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities.
The commission may enter into contracts for interruptible, demand response or energy efficiency capacity resources. These contracts are not subject to the rules of the State Purchasing Agent. In a competitive solicitation conducted pursuant to subsection 6, the commission shall allow transmission and distribution utilities to submit bids for interruptible, demand response or energy efficiency capacity resources.
Capacity resources contracted under this subsection may not exceed the amount necessary to ensure the reliability of the electric grid of this State or to lower customer costs as determined by the commission pursuant to rules adopted under subsection 10.
Unless the commission determines the public interest requires otherwise, a capacity resource may not be contracted under this subsection unless the commission determines that the capacity resource is recognized as a capacity resource for purposes of any regional or federal capacity requirements.
The commission shall ensure that any long-term contract authorized under this subsection is consistent with the State's goals for greenhouse gas reduction under Title 38, section 576 and the regional greenhouse gas initiative as described in the state climate action plan required in Title 38, section 577.
Sec. A-26. 35-A MRSA §3210-C, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2007, c. 575, §3 and c. 656, Pt. B, §3, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-27. 35-A MRSA §3210-C, sub-§8, as amended by PL 2007, c. 575, §4 and c. 656, Pt. B, §4, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-28. 36 MRSA §191, sub-§2, ¶JJ, as amended by PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. M, §3 and Pt. OO, §6; c. 693, §8; and c. 694, §2, is further amended to read:
Sec. A-29. 36 MRSA §191, sub-§2, ¶KK, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. M, §4, is amended to read:
Sec. A-30. 36 MRSA §191, sub-§2, ¶KK, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. OO, §7, is reallocated to 36 MRSA §191, sub-§2, ¶LL.
Sec. A-31. 36 MRSA §191, sub-§2, ¶KK, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 693, §9, is reallocated to 36 MRSA §191, sub-§2, ¶MM.
Sec. A-32. 36 MRSA §191, sub-§2, ¶KK, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 694, §3, is reallocated to 36 MRSA §191, sub-§2, ¶NN.
Sec. A-33. 36 MRSA §1487, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 541, Pt. E, §1 and c. 693, §13, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-34. 36 MRSA §1752, sub-§11, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 627, §42 and affected by §96 and amended by c. 693, §14, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
(1) Any casual sale;
(2) Any sale by a personal representative in the settlement of an estate, unless the sale is made through a retailer, or unless the sale is made in the continuation or operation of a business;
(3) The sale, to a person engaged in the business of renting automobiles, of automobiles, integral parts of automobiles or accessories to automobiles, for rental or for use in an automobile rented on a short-term basis;
(4) The sale, to a person engaged in the business of renting video media and video equipment, of video media or video equipment for rental;
(5) The sale, to a person engaged in the business of renting or leasing automobiles, of automobiles for rental or lease for one year or more;
(6) The sale, to a person engaged in the business of providing cable or satellite television services, of associated equipment for rental or lease to subscribers in conjunction with a sale of extended cable or extended satellite television services;
(7) The sale, to a person engaged in the business of renting furniture, or audio media and audio equipment, of furniture, audio media or audio equipment for rental pursuant to a rental-purchase agreement as defined in Title 9-A, section 11-105;
(8) The sale of loaner vehicles to a new vehicle dealer licensed as such pursuant to Title 29-A, section 953;
(9) The sale of automobile repair parts used in the performance of repair services on an automobile pursuant to an extended service contract sold on or after September 20, 2007 that entitles the purchaser to specific benefits in the service of the automobile for a specific duration;
(10) The sale, to a retailer that has been issued a resale certificate pursuant to section 1754-B, subsection 2-B or 2-C, of tangible personal property for resale in the form of tangible personal property, except resale as a casual sale;
(11) The sale, to a retailer that has been issued a resale certificate pursuant to section 1754-B, subsection 2-B or 2-C, of a taxable service for resale, except resale as a casual sale;
(12) The sale, to a retailer that is not required to register under section 1754-B, of tangible personal property for resale outside the State in the form of tangible personal property, except resale as a casual sale; or
(13) The sale, to a retailer that is not required to register under section 1754-B, of a taxable service for resale outside the State, except resale as a casual sale.
Sec. A-35. 36 MRSA §2552, sub-§1, ¶J, as amended by PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. DDD, §7 and c. 627, §67, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-36. 36 MRSA §2552, sub-§1, ¶K, as repealed by PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. DDD, §8 and amended by c. 627, §68, is repealed.
Sec. A-37. 36 MRSA §2559, as amended by PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. DDD, §9, is further amended to read:
§ 2559. Application of revenues
Revenues derived by the tax imposed by this chapter must be credited to a General Fund suspense account. On or before the last day of each month, the State Controller shall transfer a percentage of the revenues received by the State Tax Assessor during the preceding month pursuant to the tax imposed by section 2552, subsection 1, paragraphs A to F and L to the Local Government Fund as provided by Title 30-A, section 5681, subsection 5. The balance remaining in the General Fund suspense account must be transferred to service provider tax General Fund revenue. On or before the 15th day of each month, the State Controller shall transfer all revenues received by the assessor during the preceding month pursuant to the tax imposed by section 2552, subsection 1, paragraphs G to J to the Medical Care Services Other Special Revenue Funds account, the Other Special Revenue Funds Mental Health Services - Community Medicaid program, the Medicaid Services - Mental Retardation program and the Office of Substance Abuse - Medicaid Seed program within the Department of Health and Human Services.
Sec. A-38. 36 MRSA §5219-BB, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 690, §1, is reallocated to 36 MRSA §5219-DD.
Sec. A-39. 37-B MRSA §505, sub-§1-A, ¶A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 521, §2 and c. 678, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-40. 37-B MRSA §505, sub-§1-A, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 521, §2 and c. 678, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. A-41. PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. L, §1, as corrected by RR 2007, c. 2, §32, is repealed.
Sec. A-42. Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause. In the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, chapter 1054-A, in the chapter headnote, the words "additional support for people in retraining and education program" are amended to read "additional support for people in retraining and employment program" and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes.
PART B
Sec. B-1. 25 MRSA §2351, as corrected by RR 1995, c. 2, §56 and amended by PL 2007, c. 699, §7 and affected by §26, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 2351. Building official; compensation; jurisdiction; deputy
In every town and city of more than 2,000 inhabitants, and in every town of 2,000 inhabitants or less, if such a town so votes at a town meeting, and in each village corporation, if such a corporation so votes at the annual meeting of the corporation, the municipal officers shall annually in the month of April appoint a building official, who must be a person skilled in the construction of buildings, and shall determine the building official's compensation. The municipal officers shall define the limits within which the building official has jurisdiction, which includes the thickly settled portion of each such city or of each village in each such city or town. Whenever the building official becomes incapacitated, the municipal officers may appoint or authorize the building official to appoint a deputy building official, who shall serve until removed by the municipal officers, but in no event beyond the term for which the building official was appointed. The deputy building official shall perform such duties as may be required of the deputy building official by the building official. The compensation of the deputy building official is determined by the municipal officers.
This section is repealed July 1, 2010.
Sec. B-2. 25 MRSA §2351-A is enacted to read:
§ 2351-A. Building official; compensation; deputy
In every town and city of more than 2,000 inhabitants, and in every town of 2,000 inhabitants or less, if such a town so votes at a town meeting, and in each village corporation, if such a corporation so votes at the annual meeting of the corporation, the municipal officers shall annually in the month of April appoint a building official, who must be a person certified in building standards pursuant to Title 30-A, section 4451, subsection 2-A, paragraph E, and shall determine the building official's compensation. Whenever the building official becomes incapacitated, the municipal officers may appoint or authorize the building official to appoint a deputy building official, who shall serve until removed by the municipal officers, but in no event beyond the term for which the building official was appointed. The deputy building official shall perform such duties as may be required of the deputy building official by the building official. The compensation of the deputy building official is determined by the municipal officers.
This section takes effect July 1, 2010.
Sec. B-3. 25 MRSA §2352, as amended by PL 1975, c. 623, §34, is further amended to read:
§ 2352. Right to enter buildings
An inspector of buildings A building official in the performance of his the building official's official duty may enter any building for the purpose of making the inspection required by chapters 313 to 321.
Sec. B-4. 25 MRSA §2353, as amended by PL 2007, c. 699, §8 and affected by §26, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 2353. Duty to inspect buildings under construction
The building official shall inspect each new building during the process of construction, so far as may be necessary, to see that all proper safeguards against the catching or spreading of fire are used, that the chimneys and flues are made safe and that proper cutoffs are placed between the timbers in the walls and floorings where fire would be likely to spread, and may give such directions in writing to the owner or contractor as the building official considers necessary concerning the construction of such building so as to render the same safe from the catching and spreading of fire.
This section is repealed July 1, 2010.
Sec. B-5. 25 MRSA §2353-A is enacted to read:
§ 2353-A. Duty to inspect buildings under construction
The building official shall inspect each building during the process of construction for compliance with the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code adopted pursuant to Title 10, chapter 1103 and so far as may be necessary to see that all proper safeguards against the catching or spreading of fire are used, that the chimneys and flues are made safe and that proper cutoffs are placed between the timbers in the walls and floorings where fire would be likely to spread, and may give such directions in writing to the owner or contractor as the building official considers necessary concerning the construction of the building so as to render the building safe from the catching and spreading of fire.
This section takes effect July 1, 2010.
Sec. B-6. 25 MRSA §2354, as amended by PL 1991, c. 714, §6, is further amended to read:
§ 2354. Inspection of buildings being repaired
Subject to Title 32, chapter 33, the inspector of buildings building official shall inspect all buildings while in process of being repaired and see that all reasonable safeguards are used against the catching and spreading of fire and that the chimneys and flues are made safe. The inspector building official may give directions in writing to the owner as necessary concerning such repairs to render the building safe from the catching and spreading of fire.
Sec. B-7. 25 MRSA §2356 is amended to read:
§ 2356. Appeals
An appeal in writing may be taken from any order or direction of the inspector of buildings building official to the municipal officers, whose order thereon shall be is final.
Sec. B-8. 25 MRSA §2357, as amended by PL 1999, c. 725, §5 and PL 2007, c. 699, §9 and affected by §26, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 2357. No occupancy without certificate; appeal
Subject to the provisions of Title 10, chapter 951, a new building may not be occupied until the building official has given a certificate that the same has been built in accordance with section 2353, and so as to be safe from fire. If the owner permits it to be so occupied without such certificate, the owner must be penalized in accordance with Title 30-A, section 4452. In case the building official for any cause declines to give that certificate and the builder has in the builder's own judgment complied with section 2353, an appeal may be taken to the municipal officers and, if on such appeal it is decided by them that the section has been complied with, the owner of the building is not liable to a fine for want of the certificate of the building official.
This section is repealed July 1, 2010.
Sec. B-9. 25 MRSA §2357-A is enacted to read:
§ 2357-A. No occupancy without certificate; appeal
Subject to the provisions of Title 10, chapter 951, a building may not be occupied until the building official has given a certificate of occupancy for compliance with the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code adopted pursuant to Title 10, chapter 1103, pursuant to the required inspections in section 2373 that the building has been built in accordance with section 2353-A, and so as to be safe from fire. If the owner permits it to be so occupied without such certificate, the owner must be penalized in accordance with Title 30-A, section 4452. In case the building official for any cause declines to give that certificate and the builder has in the builder's own judgment complied with section 2353-A, an appeal may be taken to the municipal officers and, if on such appeal it is decided by them that the section has been complied with, the owner of the building is not liable to a fine for want of the certificate of the building official.
This section takes effect July 1, 2010.
Sec. B-10. 25 MRSA §2358, as amended by PL 1989, c. 502, Pt. A, §102, is further amended to read:
§ 2358. Failure to comply with order of building official
If the owner of any building neglects or refuses for more than 30 days to comply with any direction of the inspector of buildings building official concerning the repairs on any building as provided in section 2354, the owner shall must be penalized in accordance with Title 30-A, section 4452.
Sec. B-11. 25 MRSA §2359, as repealed and replaced by PL 1995, c. 462, Pt. A, §48, is amended to read:
§ 2359. Refusing admission to building official
An owner or occupant of a building , who refuses to permit an inspector of buildings a building official to enter the buildings building or willfully obstructs the inspector building official in the inspection of such the building as required by chapters 313 to 321 , must be penalized in accordance with Title 30-A, section 4452.
Sec. B-12. 25 MRSA §2360, as amended by PL 1987, c. 35, §3, is further amended to read:
§ 2360. Authority to enter buildings; remedy of conditions appeals
The inspector of buildings building official, the fire inspector and the municipal officers of any city or town may at all reasonable hours, for the purpose of examination, enter into and upon all buildings and premises within their jurisdiction. Whenever any of said those officers shall find in any building or upon any premises combustible material, inflammable conditions or heating fixtures or apparatus so situated or constructed as to be dangerous to the safety of such buildings or premises, they shall order the same to be removed or remedied, and such order shall must be forthwith complied with by the owner or occupant of said those buildings or premises. If the said An owner or occupant shall deem himself aggrieved by such order when made by the inspector of buildings building official or the fire inspector , he may within 24 hours appeal to the municipal officers, and the cause of the complaint shall must be at once investigated by the direction of the latter and, unless by their authority the that order above named is revoked, such that order shall remain remains in force and must be forthwith complied with by said the owner or occupant. The inspector of buildings building official, the fire inspector or the municipal officers shall make, or cause to be made, an immediate investigation as to the presence of combustible material or the existence of inflammable conditions in any building or upon any premises under their jurisdiction, upon complaint of any person having an interest in said those buildings or premises or property adjacent thereto. Any owner or occupant of buildings or premises, failing to comply with the orders of the authorities above specified, shall must be punished by a fine of not less than $5 for each day's neglect.
Sec. B-13. 25 MRSA §2361, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 101 and amended by PL 2007, c. 699, §10 and affected by §26, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. B-14. 25 MRSA §2361, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:
Sec. B-15. 30-A MRSA §7060, sub-§1, ¶B, 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:
(1) The building inspector official shall send a written order to the owner or lessee of a building used for public assembly requiring any conditions which that exist in violation of an ordinance to be corrected within 30 days after the order is sent.
(2) After the 30-day period expires, the owner or lessee is strictly liable for all injury caused by the failure to correct the violations and the building inspector official shall order the building vacated.
(3) As used in this section, "building used for public assembly" means a room or space in or on any structure which that is used for the gathering of 100 or more persons for any purpose and includes any room or space on the same level, above or below, which that has a common entrance; and
Sec. B-16. 30-A MRSA §7060, sub-§2, 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. A, §56 and Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is further amended to read:
(1) For a building or use for which the applicant is required to obtain a license under Title 38, section 413, until the applicant has obtained that license; nor or
(2) For a building or use within a land subdivision, as defined in section 4551 4401, unless that subdivision has been approved in accordance with that section.
(1) A person aggrieved by an order of the building inspector official or a permit applicant may appeal in writing to the plantation assessors. At their next meeting following receipt of the appeal, the plantation assessors shall affirm, modify or set aside the decision of the building inspector official according to the terms of the pertinent ordinance. They may permit a variation from the terms of an ordinance when necessary to avoid undue hardship, provided that as long as there is no substantial departure from the intent of the ordinance. They may permit an exception to an ordinance only when the terms of the exception have been specifically set forth by the plantation. The failure of the plantation assessors to issue a written notice of their decision, directed to the applicant, within 30 days from the filing of the appeal constitutes a denial of the appeal. If a plantation has by ordinance required that all such appeals be taken to a board of appeals, the procedure shall must be the same as in appeals directed to the plantation assessors, unless the plantation has provided otherwise.
(2) An appeal may be taken from the decision of the plantation assessors or the board of appeals as provided in section 2691, subsection 3, paragraph G.
Sec. B-17. 33 MRSA §592, sub-§7, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 478, §1, is amended to read:
(1) If the purchaser gives a valid notice of cancellation pursuant to this section or is otherwise entitled to cancel the sale, the funds or other consideration received from or on behalf of the purchaser must be returned to the purchaser.
(2) If the purchaser defaults in the performance of any obligation relating to the purchase or ownership of the time-share following the expiration of the cancellation period set out in subsection 1, the developer shall provide an affidavit to the escrow agent requesting release of the escrowed funds or other consideration and shall provide a copy of the affidavit to the purchaser who has defaulted. If, within 7 calendar days of mailing the affidavit, the developer has not received from the purchaser a written notice of a dispute between the purchaser and the developer or a claim to the escrowed funds or other consideration, the funds or other consideration received from or on behalf of the purchaser must be immediately released to the developer.
(3) If no cancellation or default has occurred, the escrow agent may release the funds or other consideration upon presentation of an affidavit by the developer that:
(a) The cancellation period has expired; and
(b) A certificate or statement of substantial completion has been executed by an engineer or architect or a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the municipal inspector of buildings building official for the time-share unit containing the time-share.
Sec. B-18. 33 MRSA §1602-101, sub-§(b), as enacted by PL 1981, c. 699, is amended to read:
(b) No interest in any unit may be conveyed to a purchaser until the unit is substantially completed as evidenced by a certificate or statement of substantial completion executed by an engineer or architect, or until a certificate of occupancy is issued by the municipal inspector of buildings building official; provided except that this limitation shall does not apply to contracts, options or reservations for sale of units later to be so completed nor or to mortgages or transfers of units as security for an obligation, deeds in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosures and foreclosure sales, conveyances to successor declarants or to any person in the business of selling real estate for his that person's own account, or to financial institutions.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
Part A does the following:
Section 1 changes references to the Maine Legislative Retirement System to the Legislative Retirement Program to reflect the intent of Public Law 2007, chapter 491.
Section 2 corrects a reference to the Maine Judicial Retirement System to reflect the intent of Public Law 2007, chapter 491.
Section 3 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 491 and 523, which both substantively affected the same provision of law. This section corrects the conflict by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 4 corrects a clerical error by removing a word that was inadvertently included in the original public law.
Section 5 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 490 and 491, which both affected the same provision of law. This section corrects the conflict by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 6 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 490 and 491, which both affected the same provision of law. This section corrects the conflict by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 7 replaces the word "fax" with the preferred term "facsimile transmission."
Section 8 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapter 607, Part A, which made a technical change, and Part B, which made substantive changes to the same provision of law. This section repeals the provision and replaces it with the Part B version.
Section 9 corrects a definition so that it applies to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, Part 13 and not just to the subsection. The original definition applied to all of Part 13. The intent of the changes made in Public Law 2007, chapter 651 was to amend the residency requirements but not alter the application of the definition.
Section 10 clarifies the meaning of a section of law by adding words to make it read correctly.
Section 11 corrects a clerical error.
Section 12 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 539 and 572, which affected the same provision of law. This section repeals the provision and replaces it with the chapter 572 version.
Section 13 corrects a cross-reference.
Section 14 corrects a clerical error created when 2 words were transposed.
Section 15 replaces the word "fax" with the preferred term "facsimile transmission."
Section 16 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 653 and 663, which both substantively affected the same provision of law. This section corrects the conflict by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 17 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, c. 231, which amended the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 31, section 714, subsection 2, paragraph B and chapter 323, which repealed subsection 2. This section corrects the conflict by repealing Title 31, section 714, subsection 2.
Section 18 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 390 and 402, which affected the same provision of law. This section corrects the conflict by repealing the provision and replacing it with the chapter 390 version.
Section 19 clarifies and corrects a cross-reference.
Section 20 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 10 and 402, which both substantively affected the same provision of law. This section corrects the conflict by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 21 corrects a conflict created when Public Law 2007, chapter 384 repealed the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 12251, subsection 4-A, and chapter 402 amended that subsection. This section corrects the conflict by repealing the subsection.
Section 22 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 344 and 402, which both substantively affected the same provision of law. This section corrects the conflict by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 23 replaces the word "fax" with the preferred term "facsimile transmission."
Section 24 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 609 and 670, which both substantively affected the same provision of law. This section corrects the conflict by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Sections 25, 26 and 27 correct a conflict created when Public Law 2007, chapters 575 and 656 affected the same provision of law. These sections correct the conflicts by repealing the subsections and replacing them with the chapter 656 version of those subsections, which made other substantive changes in addition to the changes made in chapter 575.
Sections 28 to 32 correct a number of conflicts created when Public Law 2007, chapter 539, Parts M and OO, chapter 693 and chapter 694 all enacted a section of law with the same allocation.
Section 33 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 541 and 693, which both substantively affected the same provision of law. This section corrects the conflict by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Section 34 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 627 and 693, which affected the same provision of law. This section corrects the conflict by repealing the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 1752, subsection 11, paragraph B and replacing it with the version as amended by chapter 693, which made other substantive changes in addition to the substantive change made in chapter 627.
Section 35 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 539 and 627, which affected the same provision of law in the same substantive way. This section corrects the conflict by repealing the provision of law and replacing it with the chapter 539 version. It also corrects a punctuation error.
Section 36 corrects a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapter 539, which repealed the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 2552, subsection 1, paragraph K and chapter 627, which amended the same provision of law in a nonsubstantive manner. This section corrects that conflict by repealing Title 36, section 2552, subsection 1, paragraph K.
Section 37 corrects an error made when the term "ancillary services," denoting services associated with the provision of telecommunications services, was added to the list of services upon which the service provider tax is imposed without adding the needed cross-reference to the section of law that allocates the revenue from the service provider tax.
Section 38 corrects a numbering problem created when Public Law 2007, chapters 539 and 690 enacted 2 substantively different provisions with the same section number.
Sections 39 and 40 correct a conflict created by Public Law 2007, chapters 521 and 678, which both substantively affected the same provision of law. These sections correct the conflict by incorporating the changes made by both laws.
Public Law 2007, chapter 629, Part D was the subject of a people's veto and the veto passed so any changes that were made by Part D never took effect. Section 41 repeals Public Law 2007, chapter 695, Part L, section 1 because it amended a provision of law that was amended by Public Law 2007, chapter 629, Part D, section 3.
Section 42 corrects a headnote to reflect the change of the name of the program from "Additional Support for People in Retraining and Education Program" to "Additional Support for People in Retraining and Employment Program."
Part B addresses errors and potential conflicts created by enactment of Public Law 2007, chapter 699, which through a revision clause attempted to change references to the position of inspector of buildings with the position of building official. In some instances a direct replacement by revision clause was impossible because the terminology to be changed was not exactly the same as that specified in the revision clause. In some instances where substantive changes were made in the public law in a section having a postponed effective date, changing the terminology by revision clause would have created a future conflict.