CHAPTER 150
H.P. 671 - L.D. 961
An Act To Establish the Agricultural Water Management and Irrigation Fund
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, adequate water resources are critical to agriculture in the State; and
Whereas, the establishment of a fund and ability to administer that fund must be in place as soon as possible to provide optimal benefits for the 2005 growing season; 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. 7 MRSA Pt. 1-B, as amended, is further amended by repealing the Part headnote and enacting the following in its place:
PART 1-B
WATER AND SOIL MANAGEMENT
Sec. 2. 7 MRSA c. 13 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 13
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT AND IRRIGATION
§351. Agricultural Water Management and Irrigation Fund
1. Fund; established. The Agricultural Water Management and Irrigation Fund, referred to in this chapter as "the fund," is established as a nonlapsing fund in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources. The commissioner may accept money for the fund from any public or private source and make expenditures from the fund for the purpose of improving the use of irrigation in agriculture and the use of water resources in animal agriculture.
2. Administration. The commissioner shall administer the fund.
3. Rulemaking. The commissioner shall adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
4. Report. The commissioner shall submit an annual report on March 1st to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters. The report must include a summary of money available in the fund, the use of the fund and the status of agricultural irrigation in the State.
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF
Division of Marketing and Production Development 0833
Initiative: Provides an initial allocation for the newly established Agricultural Water Management and Irrigation Fund.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE
FUNDS 2005-06 2006-07
All Other $500 $500
__________ __________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE
FUNDS TOTAL $500 $500
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.
Effective May 20, 2005.
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