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Public Law
123rd Legislature
Second Regular Session
Chapter 505
H.P. 1406 - L.D. 2022
An Act To Designate Certain Rules of the Bureau of State Police as Major Substantive Rules
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §555, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 679, §1, is further amended to read:
 
2. Adoption of federal regulations.   The bureau may adopt rules to incorporate by reference federal regulations in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 40, 382, 383, 385, 390, 391, 392, 393, 395 and 396, as amended, and may adopt amendments to those federal regulations. The following provisions apply to the adoption of federal regulations under this section.
 
A. TheExcept as provided in paragraph A-1, the Maine Administrative Procedure Act does not apply to the adoption by reference of federal regulations under this subsection.
 
A-1.  A rule adopted by the bureau under this subsection is a major substantive rule as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A if it:
 
(1) Adopts by reference any provision of the federal regulations described under this subsection that would result in a modification of the substance or effect of any amendment to the federal regulations adopted by the bureau and in effect on the effective date of this paragraph; or
 
(2) Adopts an amendment to any federal regulation described under this subsection.
 
C. For every rule adopted under this subsection:
 
(1) The bureau shall file with the Secretary of State:
 
(a) A certified copy of the rule;
 
(b) A published copy of the federal regulation or amendment as printed in the Federal Register; and
 
(c) Annually, a published copy of the updated volume of the Code of Federal Regulations containing the federal regulation.
 
The bureau shall make available for inspection at no charge, and for copying at actual cost, a current published copy of the referenced federal regulations.
 
D. The Secretary of State shall publish, pursuant to Title 5, section 8053, subsection 5, a notice containing the following information:
 
(1) A statement that the rule has been adopted and its effective date;
 
(2) A brief description of the substance of the rule and the referenced federal regulation or amendment; and
 
(3) The addresses at which copies of the rule and the federal regulation or amendment may be obtained.
 
E. The Secretary of State shall maintain and make available at the Secretary of State’s office for inspection at no charge, and for copying or purchase at actual cost, current copies of these rules and include them within the compilations subject to Title 5, section 8056, subsection 3, paragraphs A-1 and B. The Secretary of State shall also make available for inspection at no charge and for copying at actual cost a current published copy of the referenced federal regulations and amendments.
 
F. A rule adopted under this section may not take effect until at least 5 days after filing with the Secretary of State, except that, if the bureau finds that immediate adoption of the rule is necessary to avoid an immediate threat to public health, safety or general welfare, the bureau may adopt the rule as an emergency rule in accordance with Title 5, section 8054, and that rule takes effect immediately.
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §555, sub-§4, ¶B,  as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
 
B. Notwithstanding Title 5, section 10051, the Secretary of State may suspend a license for lack of sufficient insurance.
 
A suspension continues until the Secretary of State is satisfied that the carrier has obtained adequate insurance.
 
Notice and an opportunity for hearing are as provided by the Maine Administrative Procedure Act.
 
Effective June 30, 2008