130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1565		LR 54(02)
	An Act To Strengthen Maine's Agriculture, Food and Forest Economy
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2021-22	FY 2022-23	Projections  FY 2023-24	Projections  FY 2024-25
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$77,200	$4,800	$4,800	$4,800
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$77,200	$4,800	$4,800	$4,800
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$500	$500	$500	$500
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill would create the Maine Agriculture, Food Systems and Forestry Products Infrastructure Investment Advisory Board and creates the Maine Agriculture, Food and Forest Products Investment Fund (MAFFIF) within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) to facilitate strategic investments in the State's agricultural, food and forest products processing and manufacturing industries. The bill also directs the ACF to work with the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and other relevant entities to develop an assessment of how to utilize the board and fund to promote investment into the State's agricultural, food and forest products processing and manufacturing industries and report on the findings by December 1, 2021. ACF has indicated that to complete the assessment within the provided timeline, it needs to utilize contracted services. The bill includes a one-time appropriation of $72,400 in fiscal year 2021-22 for contracted services and ongoing appropriations of $4,800 starting in fiscal year 2021-22 for reimbursement of board expenses. The bill also includes ongoing allocations of $500 starting in fiscal year 2021-22 to establish the MAFFIF fund.
	Additional costs to DECD for the Commissioner or the commissioner's designee to serve on the board and to work with ACF and other relevant entities to develop the  required assessment can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.