132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1904		LR 1507(02)
	An Act to Establish the Municipal Shoreline Protection Legal Fund
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Potential current biennium revenue decrease - General Fund Potential current biennium revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
			FY 2025-26	FY 2026-27	Projections  FY 2027-28	Projections  FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$201,881	$106,477	$110,556
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$101,881	$106,477	$110,556
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$100,000	$100,000	$100,000
Transfers
	General Fund		$0	($100,000)	$0	$0
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$100,000	$0	$0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill establishes the Municipal Shoreline Protection Legal Fund (MSPL) within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The bill also directs that, of the monetary penalties collected under the Natural Resources Protection Act each fiscal year, up to the first $100,000 be deposited into the MSPL. Because these revenues are currently credited to the General Fund, this provision will reduce General Fund revenue by the amount redirected to the MSPL.
	The DEP has indicated that administration of the MSPL will require additional staff and resources. Although the bill authorizes the use of MSPL resources for administrative costs, penalty revenue is variable and may not provide a minimum level of funding to support a position within the fund. As a result, the bill includes ongoing General Fund appropriations of $101,881 beginning in fiscal year 2026-27 for one Environmental Specialist III position and related All Other costs.
	The bill also includes a one-time transfer of $100,000 on or before September 1, 2026 from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund to capitalize the MSPL, along with a corresponding ongoing  allocations to authorize expenditures.