CHAPTER 555
H.P. 143 - L.D. 192
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, recreational businesses and the areas of the State that they serve are in need of economic support, and providing tax incentives to recreational businesses in rural portions of the State would improve the economic climate of those areas; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA c. 206, sub-c. 5 is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 5
PINE TREE RECREATION ZONE
§5250-Q. Pine Tree Recreation Zone
1. Definitions. As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Qualified project" means a business project that meets the criteria set forth in subsection 4 conducted by a qualified industry.
B. "Qualified industry" means a for-profit corporation, limited liability company, partnership, registered limited liability partnership, sole proprietorship, business trust or any other entity, inside or outside the State, that is engaged in or will engage in a qualified project.
2. Establishment. The Pine Tree Recreation Zone is established to expand recreational opportunities and encourage tourism and economic development in areas adjacent to and located within the State's natural resources in the central and northern regions of the State.
3. Designation of zone. The Pine Tree Recreation Zone is that area of the State that is north and east of the Androscoggin River.
4. Project eligibility. A business project is eligible to qualify for Pine Tree Recreation Zone benefits if the project:
A. Is located within the Pine Tree Recreation Zone and is in a labor market area with a population density of less than 30 people per square mile according to the last Federal Decennial Census; and
B. Derives at least 50% of its business from sustainable recreational or agricultural tourism activities that involve the use of available natural resources and provides at least one of the following services:
(1) Accommodations;
(2) Guiding or instructional services; and
(3) The sale or rental of equipment for use in canoeing, kayaking, hunting, fishing, sailing, whitewater rafting, hiking, wildlife photography, snowmobiling, dog sledding, snowshoeing, downhill or cross-country skiing, camping activities or other similar nature-based tourism activities.
5. Administration; rules. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall administer this subchapter and shall adopt rules for the implementation of this subchapter. Rules adopted under this subsection are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. The commissioner is authorized to adopt rules setting forth the process by which qualified projects may apply for funding from grants and loans, including loans administered by the Finance Authority of Maine through its economic recovery loan program.
Sec. 2. Development of strategic plan. The Department of Economic and Community Development shall convene at least 4 meetings with representatives of departments and stakeholder associations to gather information on the most effective methods for attracting, retaining and developing natural resource-based industries and nature-based tourism in central and northern Maine, as well as to structure the eligibility criteria and benefit structure for Pine Tree Recreation Zone program participants and qualified projects. The Department of Economic and Community Development shall include in these meetings the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, the Department of Conservation, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Marine Resources and statewide associations that have an interest in nature-based tourism in central and northern Maine and in farming and agricultural tourism. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall use this information to develop a strategic plan for attracting, retaining and expanding new and existing natural resource-based industries and nature-based tourism in central and northern Maine that must include a proposal for program benefits using loans and state grant programs. The commissioner shall report by February 15, 2007 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development matters on the details of this strategic plan for the Pine Tree Recreation Zone. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development matters is authorized to report out legislation on the strategic plan to the First Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature.
Sec. 3. Effective date. That section of this Act that enacts the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, chapter 206, subchapter 5 takes effect January 1, 2008.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved, unless otherwise indicated.
Effective April 10, 2006, unless otherwise indicated.
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