132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1519		LR 2253(02)
	An Act to Create a Stewardship Program for Electronic Smoking Devices and Related Products
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2025-26	FY 2026-27	Projections  FY 2027-28	Projections  FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$109,480	$0	$0	$0
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$109,480	$0	$0	$0
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$121,474	$123,554	$128,551
Revenue
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$100,000	$100,000	$100,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill requires that, on or before November 1, 2026, producers of electronic smoking devices must individually or through the creation of a stewardship organization, submit to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) a plan to manage unwanted electronic smoking devices sold by the producer at the end of the device's life.
	The DEP has indicated that while the costs of administering the oversight of the stewardship program will eventually be funded by the annual fees paid beginning in fiscal year 2026-27, certain provisions of the bill will require the department to undertake activities in fiscal year 2025-26 that would require additional staffing and resources.  Accordingly, the bill includes one-time General Fund appropriations of $109,480 in fiscal year 2025-26 for one Environmental Specialist III position and associated costs.
	This position and associated costs are expected to be partially funded by the fees paid by the stewardship program participants.  Because the bill caps the administrative fees charged by the department at $100,000 annually, additional allocations from existing resources will be required to fully fund the position costs.  The bill includes ongoing Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of $121,474 starting in fiscal year 2026-27 to authorize these expenditures.