131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1767		LR 702(01)
	An Act to Develop and Provide Technical Assistance for Meat Slaughtering and Processing
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Cluchey of Bowdoinham
	Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
			FY 2023-24	FY 2024-25	Projections  FY 2025-26	Projections  FY 2026-27
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$362,500	$362,500	$142,500	$142,500
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$362,500	$362,500	$142,500	$142,500
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill includes General Fund appropriations totaling $362,500 in both fiscal year 2023-24 and fiscal year 2024-25 to the Educational and General Activities program within the University of Maine System to identify barriers to and provide education on meat and poultry processing in the State.  Of that amount, one-time appropriations of $220,000 are provided for a feasibility study to identify financial, physical, regulatory and other barriers to increasing meat and poultry slaughter and processing in the State and ongoing appropriations of $142,500 per year beginning in fiscal year 2023-24 are provided for cooperative extension education regarding meat and poultry processing.
	The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has indicated that current staffing is unable to absorb additional workload and it requires a one-time General Fund appropriation of $20,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 for contracted facilitator services related to the exploratory committee.
	Additional costs to the Department of Labor and the University of Maine System to serve on the exploratory committee can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources