An Act To Create the Maine Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0904
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: MARTIN, EDMONDS, PERRY, TURNER, CLOUGH, DUPLESSIE
Amends: 22 MRSA §1700-A, 36 MRSA §5289

Legislative Document 
No. 904 
S.P.312 
In Senate, February 22, 2005 
An Act To Create the Maine Asthma and Lung Disease Research 
Fund 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator MARTIN of Aroostook. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Senators: President EDMONDS of Cumberland, PERRY of Penobscot, 
TURNER of Cumberland, Representatives: CLOUGH of Scarborough, DUPLESSIE of 
Westbrook. 
Printed on recycled PJper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA c. 275, as amended, is amended by repealing 
he chapter headnote and enacting the following in its place: 
CHAPTER 275 
ASTHMA AND LUNG DISEASE 
Sec.2. 22 MRSA §1700-A is enacted to read: 
§1700-A. 
Maine Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund 
t 
There is established the Maine 
Asthma 
and 
Lung Disease 
Research Fund, an interest-bearing account. referred to in this 
section as "the fund." 
The fund receives money deposited by the 
Treasurer of State pursuant to Title 36, section 5289 and any 
other money contributed voluntarily to the fund. 
The fund is 
administered by the Bureau of Health. 
All money deposited in the 
fund and the earnings on that money remain in the fund to be used 
to 
provide 
research 
grants 
to 
develop 
and 
advance 
the 
understanding of lung disease, especially its prevention, causes, 
treatment and cure. 
Areas of research eligible for grants under 
this section include, but are not limited to, 
asthma, health 
effects 
of 
indoor 
and 
outdoor air pollution, 
emphysema 
and 
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 
Money in the fund may 
also be used for the necessary administrative and personnel costs 
associated with the 
management 
of 
the 
fund but 
may 
not 
be 
deposited in the 
General 
Fund or 
any other 
fund 
except 
as 
specifically provided by law. 
Sec.3. 36 MRSA §5289 is enacted to read: 
§5289. 
Maine Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund; voluntary 
checkoff 
1. 
Maine 
Asthma 
and Lung Disease Research Fund. 
When 
filing a return, a taxpayer entitled to a refund under this Part 
may designate that a portion of that refund be paid into the 
Maine Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund established in Title 
22, section l700-A. 
A taxpayer who is not entitled to a refund 
under this Part may contribute to the Maine Asthma and Lung 
Disease Research Fund by including with that taxpayer's return 
sufficient funds to make the contribution. 
The contributio~ 
not be less than $1. 
Each individual income tax return form must 
contain a designation in substantially the following form: "Maine 
Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund: 
( ) $1, 
( ) $5, 
( ) $10, 
() $25 or ( ) Other $ ..... " 
Page l-LR1673(1) 
2. 
Contrib~tion~J;-~di~ed j;;p ~~:q~~a aI).d Lung Disease 
Research Fund. 
The State Tax Assessor shall determine annually 
the total amount contributed pursuant to subsection 1. 
Prior to 
the beginning of the next year, 
the State Tax Assessor shall 
deduct the cost, 
up to $2,000 annually, 
of administering the 
Maine Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund checkoff and report 
the remainder to the Treasurer of State, who shall forward that 
amount to the Maine Asthma and Lung Disease Research Fund. 
Sec. 4. Application. 
This Act applies to tax years beginning 
on and after January 1, 2005. 
SUMMARY 
l6 
This bill establishes the Maine 
Asthma and 
Lung Disease 
Research Fund in the Department of Health and Human Services, 
Bureau of Health to provide grants for research into the health 
effects of indoor and outdoor air pollution and the prevention, 
causes, 
treatment 
and cure of 
lung diseases 
such as 
asthma, 
emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 
The funding 
source of the fund is a voluntary checkoff on the individual 
income tax form that allows a taxpayer to donate a portion of a 
tax refund or make a donation with the tax return.