An Act To Provide Temporary Emergency Relief to Maine Dairy Farmers
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0593
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: BRYANT, PIOTTI, DAMON, GAGNON, HATCH, TREAT, McKEE, MILLS, PINEAU, WOTTON

Legislative Document 
No. 593 
S.P.202 
In Senate, February 11, 2003 
An Act To Provide Temporary Emergency Relief to Maine Dairy 
Farmers 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator BRYANT of Oxford. (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
Cosponsored by Representative PIOTTI of Unity and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: DAMON of Hancock, GAGNON of Kennebec, HATCH of Somerset, TREAT of 
Kennebec, Representatives: McKEE of Wayne, MILLS of Cornville, PINEAU of Jay, 
WOTTON of Littleton. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas. Acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the producer price of milk has dropped to 20-year 
lows; and 
Whereas, these prices jeopardize the viability of the Maine 
dairy industry; and 
Whereas, the 
Maine 
dairy 
industry is 
State's rural 
economy 
and 
communities 
and 
activity and preserves open space; and 
essential 
to 
the 
generates business 
Whereas, the 
stablization of 
the 
dairy 
temporary 
price 
drops 
constitutes 
a 
public 
appropriate expenditure of state revenues; and 
industry 
purpose 
during 
and 
an 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency wi thin 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. Transfer of funds. 
Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, the State Controller shall transfer to the Maine Milk 
Pool as established by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, 
section 3153 $500,000 from the unallocated cash balance of the 
Maine Milk Commission. 
Sec. 
2. 
Appropriations 
and 
allocations. 
The 
following 
appropri?tions and allocations are made. 
AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL RESOURCES. 
DEPAR".I.'IIERT OF 
Maine Milk Pool 
Initiative: 
Provides for a one-time appropriation of funds to be 
transferred to the Maine Milk Pool. 
General Fund 
All Other 
General Fund Total 
Ini tiati ve: 
Provides for the 
the provisions of this Act. 
2002-03 
$225,000 
$225,000 
2003-04 
$0 
$0 
allocation of funds to carry out 
The funds must be distributed no 
Page l-LRI842(1} 
later than April 
2003 equally to all Maine dairy farmers in 
accordance with their production. 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
All Other 
Other Special Revenue Funds Total 
AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL RESOURCES 
DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT "lUTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
DEPARTMENT "lUTAL -
ALL FUNDS 
$725,000 
$725,000 
2002-03 
$225,000 
725,000 
$950,000 
$0 
$0 
2003-04 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited ln the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides for the allocation of funds to provide 
temporary emergency relief to Maine dairy farmers.