128th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1611		LR 16(02)
	An Act To Protect Persons Who Cultivate, Process, Buy and Sell Hemp
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
	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		$0	$86,490	$88,140	$89,871
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$86,490	$88,140	$89,871
Revenue
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$12,500	$12,500	$12,500
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements
	Establishes new civil violations; the collection of additional fines may also increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill will establish an industrial hemp pilot program to allow educational institutions and others to cultivate, process and distribute industrial hemp for research purposes under a license issued by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF).  The bill also directs the department to create an industrial hemp seed certification program in conjunction with the new pilot program licensure requirements.
	The bill includes a General Fund appropriation of $36,490 in fiscal year 2018-19 to the Division of Quality Assurance and Regulation program within ACF for one part-time Certified Seed Specialist position and All Other costs to administer the seed certification program.  Because the pilot program is limited to research activities involving industrial hemp production, it is estimated that there will be a limited number of program participants generating Other Special Revenue Funds revenue of $12,500 starting in fiscal year 2018-19.
	This bill includes a General Fund appropriation of $50,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 to the Educational and General Activities - UMS program within the University of Maine System for the costs associated with the University of Maine providing research, outreach, product development and testing services to participants of an industrial hemp pilot program.  The System estimates an annual cost of $50,000 for each year of the 5-year pilot program.