SP0155
LD 563
First Regular Session - 125th Maine Legislature
 
LR 14
Item 1
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Use a Portion of the Sales and Use Tax for the Protection of Maine's Fish and Wildlife

Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be proposed:

Constitution, Art. IX, §24 is enacted to read:

Section 24. Revenues dedicated to fish and wildlife resources protection. In addition to the appropriation of funds required under section 22, 0.125% of revenues raised by means of the sales and use tax laws must be allocated to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or any successor agency responsible for fisheries and wildlife management, other than commercial marine fisheries management, and may be used only for the protection of the State's fish and wildlife resources.

; and be it further
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date. Resolved: That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question:
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to require that one-eighth of one percent of the revenues collected through the sales and use tax be dedicated to the protection of the State's fish and wildlife resources?"

The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment, the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation; and be it further

Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.

SUMMARY

This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to allocate 0.125% of revenues raised by means of the Sales and Use Tax Law to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for the sole purpose of protecting the State's fish and wildlife resources.


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