130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 900		LR 1147(02)
	An Act To Facilitate the Recycling of Clean Energy Equipment
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
	Fiscal Note Required: No
Fiscal Note
			FY 2021-22	FY 2022-23	Projections  FY 2023-24	Projections  FY 2024-25
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$206,853	$0	$0	$0
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$206,853	$0	$0	$0
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$301,096	$315,062	$328,058
Revenue
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$301,096	$315,062	$328,058
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements
	The additional workload associated with the minimal number of new cases filed in the court system does not require additional funding at this time. The collection of additional fine and/or fee revenue will increase General Fund and dedicated revenue by minor amounts.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill creates new requirements for the use and disposal of solar panels and requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a recycling program for discarded solar panels. The bill establishes a fee of $125 per solar panel purchased to offset program administration costs.  The DEP has indicated that the programing requirements of this bill require additional staff and resources. While the bill allows the DEP to establish a fee structure to offset the program's costs, the DEP will require initial General Fund appropriations of $206,853 for one Environmental Specialist IV, 2 Environmental Specialist III positions and associated costs.  The DEP anticipates that fees will fund the positions starting in fiscal year 2022-23.  The bill includes ongoing allocations to the DEP of $301,096 starting in fiscal year 2022-23 for the same positions and associated costs.
	Because this bill allows, but does not require, funds from the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) within the Department of Economic and Community Development to be used to fund the the development of a recycling process as well as the design and construction of recycling equipment and an approved recycling facility, this bill does not have a fiscal impact on MTI.