128th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 243 LR 2223(01)
An Act To Change the Oversight Agency for Recreational Marijuana from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations and To Allocate Funds for Implementation
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
Sponsor: Spkr. Gideon of Freeport
Committee: Marijuana Legalization Implementation
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
FY 2016-17 FY 2017-18 FY 2018-19 Projections  FY 2019-20 Projections  FY 2020-21
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $1,600,000 $0 $0 $0 $0
Appropriations/Allocations
Other Special Revenue Funds $1,600,000 $0 $0 $0 $0
Transfers
General Fund ($1,600,000) $0 $0 $0 $0
Other Special Revenue Funds $1,600,000 $0 $0 $0 $0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill replaces the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry with the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services (BABLO) as the state licensing authority to regulate and control the licensing of the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing and sale of retail marijuana and retail marijuana products.  It also establishes the Retail Marijuana Regulatory Coordination Fund within BABLO.  
The bill includes an Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $1,600,000 in fiscal year 2016-17 to BABLO to establish the Retail Marijuana Regulatory Coordination Fund. It also includes a $1,600,000 transfer from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund in fiscal year 2016-17 to the new fund. BABLO may use the fund to conduct rulemaking, enter into contracts with consultants, hire staff and implement other activities of this bill.