An Act Regarding Stolen Valor

Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §354, sub-§2, ¶A,  as amended by PL 2015, c. 21, §1, is further amended to read:

Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §1306  is enacted to read:

§ 1306.  Deposit of certain fines in Maine Military Family Relief Fund

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, if a person is convicted under section 354, subsection 2, paragraph A of theft by deception due to that person's intentional creation or reinforcement of a false impression that the person is a veteran or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a state military force, any fine imposed on that person by the court must be deposited in the Maine Military Family Relief Fund established in Title 37-B, section 158.

Sec. 3. 37-B MRSA §158,  as amended by PL 2013, c. 424, Pt. A, §29, is further amended to read:

§ 158. Maine Military Family Relief Fund

The Maine Military Family Relief Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established as a nonlapsing fund in the department administered according to rules adopted by the Adjutant General. The funds deposited in the fund include, but are not limited to, fines imposed by the court on any person convicted under Title 17-A, section 354, subsection 2, paragraph A of theft by deception due to that person's intentional creation or reinforcement of a false impression that the person is a veteran or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a state military force. The Adjutant General is authorized to award loans and grants from the fund for emergencies and other special needs to members or families of members of the Maine National Guard or residents of the State who are members or families of members of the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States and to distribute funds to a statewide nonprofit organization established for the purpose of providing assistance to members or families of members of the Maine National Guard or residents of the State who are members or families of members of the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States. The Military Bureau shall adopt rules establishing eligibility criteria for the loans and grants. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.