128th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 349		LR 445(02)
	An Act To Establish a Mattress Stewardship Program
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2017-18	FY 2018-19	Projections  FY 2019-20	Projections  FY 2020-21
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$25,002	$24,572	$25,669	$26,797
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$25,002	$24,572	$25,669	$26,797
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$8,500	$17,024	$17,024	$17,024
Revenue
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$85,000	$170,240	$170,240	$170,240
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill establishes a mattress recycling fee of $5 added to the retail price of each mattress sold in the State starting on January 1, 2018, and ending December 31, 2021. Retailers may retain $1 of the fee for the administrative costs of collecting the fee, with the remaining $4 deposited into the newly established Mattress Recycling Grant Fund (MRGF) within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The MRGF will be used to provide grants to entities or programs designed to increase the recycling of disposed mattresses and reduce their entry into the waste stream.  Up to 10% of the revenue deposited into the MRGF may be used by the DEP for the development and administration of the program. Any costs incurred by the DEP in excess of the 10% of revenue allowed to cover expenses will require General Fund appropriations.
	The bill includes General Fund appropriations of $25,002 in fiscal year 2017-18 and $24,572 in fiscal year 2018-19 and allocations to the MRGF of $8,500 in fiscal year 2017-18 and $17,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 for one part-time Environmental Specialist III position to administer the mattress recycling grant program. Based on a similar program in Connecticut and prorated for population, it is anticipated that approximately 42,560 mattresses will be disposed of annually in Maine. Assuming that each disposal is from a new mattress purchase, the mattress recycling fee will generate $85,000 to the Mattress Recycling Grant Fund in fiscal year 2017-18 and $170,240 in fiscal year 2018-19.