An Act To Support County Corrections and Public Education
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1652
Committee: Taxation
Sponsors: BARSTOW
Amends: 5 MRSA §13090-K, 36 MRSA §1752, 36 MRSA §17, 36 MRSA §1760, 20-A MRSA §15696, 36 MRSA §1966

Legislative Document 
No. 1652 
H.P. 1161 
House of Representatives, March 22, 2007 
An Act To Support County Corrections and Public Education 
Reference to the Committee on Taxation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative BARSTOW of Gorham. 
PrinrnJ on recyded paper 
Ii/~ 
1?7.1T/tJC~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
PART A 
Sec. A-I. 5 MRSA §13090-K, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 439, Pt. 
UUUU, § 1, is amended to read: 
2. Source of fund. Beginning July 1, ~ 
2008 and every July 1st thereafter, the 
State Controller shall transfer to the Tourism Marketing Promotion Fund an amount, as 
certified by the State Tax Assessor, that is equivalent to 5% of the f% tax imposed on 
tlHlgible persoAal property IHld taxable serviees the value of liquor sold in licensed 
establishments, rental of living quarters in a hotel, rooming house or tourist or trailer 
camp and prepared food pursuant to Title 36, section 1811, for the first 6 months of the 
prior fiscal year after the reduction for the transfer to the Local Government Fund as 
described by Title 30-A, section 5681, subsection 5. Beginning on October 1, ~ 
2008 
and every October 1st thereafter, the State Controller shall transfer to the Tourism 
Marketing Promotion Fund an amount, as certified by the State Tax Assessor, that is 
equivalent to 5% of the f% tax imposed on taAgible persoAal property aAd taxable 
serviees the value of liquor sold in licensed establishments, rental of living quarters in a 
hotel, rooming house or tourist or trailer camp and prepared food pursuant to Title 36, 
section 1811, for the last 6 months of the prior fiscal year after the reduction for the 
transfer to the Local Government Fund. The tax amount must be based on actual sales 
for that fiscal year and may not consider any accruals that may be required by law. The 
amount transferred from General Fund sales and use tax revenues does not affect the 
calculation for the transfer to the Local Government Fund. 
Sec. A-2. 36 MRSA §1752, sub-§l-H is enacted to read: 
I-H. 
Amusement and recreational services. "Amusement and recreational 
services" means all services provided in this State to the general public or through private 
clubs that involve exchanging a right to access to any amusement, recreational, 
exhibitive, cultural or athletic activity for any user fee, price of admission, gate fee or 
equivalent form of remuneration; 
Sec. A-3. 36 MRSA §1752, suh-§1-1 is enacted to read: 
I-I. Construction services. "Construction services" means services provided in this 
State to the general public by a person engaged in the activity of building. The activity of 
building pertains to any building, highway, road, railroad, excavation, manufactured 
building or other structure and involves any act of construction, alteration, repair, 
substantial maintenance, addition to, subtraction from, improvement, movement or 
demolition or the construction of scaffolding or other structures or work related to the 
activity of building. "Construction services" includes, but is not limited to, the services 
typically provided by building contractors, road and driveway contractors, concrete 
contractors, excavators, carpenters, masons, electricians, plumbers, roofers, siding 
applicators and house painters. 
Sec. A-4. 36 MRSA §1752, sub-§l-J is enacted to read: 
Page I - 123LR0872(Ol)-1 
I 
I-J. Consumer purchases of memberships in social organizations. "Consumer 
purchases of memberships in social organizations" includes, but is not limited to, 
consumer purchases of professional association, club and fraternal organization 
memberships and employment agency fees. "Consumer purchases of memberships in 
social organizations" does not include donations made to charitable organizations or labor 
union dues. 
Sec. A-S. 36 MRSA §17S2, sub-§8-C is enacted to read: 
8-C. Personal services. "Personal services" means services provided in this State to 
the general public by a person of specialized skill, talent or experience. A provider of 
"personal services" characteristically provides attendant care to the recipient of the 
II 
service or care, maintenance or repair services to the recipient's real or personal property. 
"Personal services" includes, but is not limited to, such services as: 
A. Personal attendant services, including, but not limited to, barbering, beautician, 
manicure, tattooing, body piercing, massage, reflexology, tanning and exercise or 
fitness services; 
B. Laundering and dry cleaning services; 
C. Painting, papering and interior decoration services; 
D. Jewelry, camera, watch and gun cleaning and repair services; 
E. Pet grooming and kennel services; 
F. Musical instrument tuning and repair services; 
G. Swimming pool installation, repair, cleaning and maintenance services; 
H. Radio, television and sound system repair services; 
I. Furniture, rug and upholstery cleaning and repair services; 
J. Locksmith services; 
K. 
Personal property and self-storage services, including storage and mooring 
services for noncommercial watercraft; 
L. 
Services related to the washing, cleaning, polishing, lubrication, painting or 
detailing of motor vehicles; 
M. Disinfection and pest extermination or control services; 
N. Landscaping, lawn care, grounds maintenance and tree removal services; 
O. Photography and photographic studio services; 
P. Printing, imprinting, painting or lettering tangible personal property for persons 
who furnish tangible personal property for that servi~ 
Q. Any fabrication, printing or production of tangible personal property by special 
order when tangible personal property is not intended for resale; 
R. Repair services for noncommercial watercraft; 
S. Dance instruction and dance studio services; 
T. Dating, escort and personal introduction services; 
U. 
Flower or balloon delivery services and services similarly provided as a 
demonstration of personal appreciation; 
V. Taxidermy services; 
W. Flight instruction services; 
X. Antique or art auctioning or dealership services; 
Y. 
Domestic services, such as meal preparation, housecleaning or household 
operation services; 
Z. Moving and storage services; and 
AA. Veterinarian services. 
"Personal services" does not include construction services; 
Sec. A-6. 36 MRSA §1752, sub-§l1, ~A, as amended by PL 2005, c. 218, §14, 
is further amended to read: 
A. "Retail sale" includes: 
(I) Conditional sales, installment lease sales and any other transfer of tangible 
personal property when the title is retained as security for the payment of the 
purchase price and is intended to be transferred later; aRd 
(2) Sale of products for internal human consumption to a person for resale 
through vending machines when sold to a person more than 50% of whose gross 
receipts from the retail sale of tangible personal property are derived from sales 
through vending machines. The tax must be paid by the retailer to the State~; and 
(3) Any taxable service defined under subsection 17-8 to the extent the taxable 
service is provided in this State and only if the relationship between the provider 
and the recipient of the taxable service is not an employment relationship with 
respect to the provision of the service. 
Sec. A-7. 36 MRSA §1752, sub-§14, as amended by PL 2005, c. 675, § I and 
affected by §2, is further amended to read: 
14. Sale price. "Sale price" means the total amount of a retail sale valued in money, 
whether received in money or otherwise. 
A. "Sale price" includes: 
(1) Services wlHOO that are a part of a retail sale; and 
(2) All receipts, cash, credits and property of any kind or nature and any amount 
for which credit is allowed by the seller to the purchaser, without any deduction 
on account of the cost of the property sold, the cost ofthe materials used, labor or 
service cost, interest paid, losses or any other expenses. 
When a taxable service is provided for a fee that is contingent on an ultimate award, 
settlement or similar financial result and the fee is a certain percentage of that 
ultimate award or settlement, the fee is deemed to include both the sale price and the 
applicable tax. 
B. "Sale price" does not include: 
(I) Discounts allowed and taken on sales; 
(2) 
Allowances in cash or by credit made upon the return of merchandise 
pursuant to warranty; 
(3) The price of property returned by customers, when the full price is refunded 
either in cash or by credit; 
(4) The price received for labor or services used in installing or applying or 
repairing the property sold, if separately charged or stated; 
(5) Any amount charged or collected, in lieu of a gratuity or tip, as a specifically 
stated service charge, when that amount is to be disbursed by a hotel, motel, 
restaurant or other eating establishment to its employees as wages; 
(6) The amount of any tax imposed by the United States on or with respect to 
retail sales, whether imposed upon the retailer or the consumer, except any 
manufacturers', importers', alcohol or tobacco excise tax; 
(7) The cost of transportation from the retailer's place of business or other point 
from which shipment is made directly to the purchaser, provided tHat as long as 
those charges are separately stated and the transportation occurs by means of 
common carrier, contract carrier or the United States mail; 
(8) The fee imposed by Title 10, section 1169, subsection 11; 
(9) The fee imposed by section 4832, subsection 1; 
(10) The lead-acid battery deposit imposed by Title 38, section 1604, subsection 
2-B; ef 
(11) Any amount charged or collected by a person engaged in the rental of 
living quarters as a forfeited room deposit or cancellation fee if the prospective 
occupant of the living quarters cancels the reservation on or before the scheduled 
date of arrival~.;",QI 
(12) 
With respect to anv fee for a taxable service, any portion of that fee 
representing direct reimbursement charged to the recipient of the taxable service 
I 
for commodities or services previously paid by the person providing the service, 
as long as any tax on those commodities or services, if any tax applies, has been 
previouslY.lli!id! 
Sec. A-8. 36 MRSA §1752, sub-§17-B, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 673, Pt. Y, 
§ 19 and affected by §29, is amended to read: 
17-B. 
Taxabl~ s£n'ice. ''Taxable service" means the rental of living quarters in a 
hotel, rooming house, Q[ tourist or trailer camp; the transmission and distribution of 
electricity; the rental or lease of an automobile; !lmusement and recreational services; 
con~umer purchases of memberships in social organizations; personal services; 
transportation services purchased b-Y..-Y0nsumers; and the sale of prepaid calling service. 
Sec. A-9. 36 MRSA §1752, sub-§20-B is enacted to read: 
20-B. Transportation services purchased by consumers. "Transportation services 
purchased by consumers" includes, but is not limited to, consumer purchases of services 
such as airline, passenger railroad, taxicab, limousine, ferry and toB-road services. 
Sec. A-IO. 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§14 is repealed. 
Sec. A-I1. 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§16, as repealed and replaced by PL 2005, c. 
622, §6, is amended to read: 
16. Hospitals, educational television or radio stations and dyslexia assistance 
organizations. Sales to: 
lOA. Incorporated hospitals; 
B. Incorporated nonprofit nursing homes licensed by the Department of Health and 
Human Services; 
C. Incorporated nonprofit residential care facilities licensed by the Department of 
Health and Human Services; 
D. Incorporated nonprofit assisted housing programs for the elderly licensed by the 
Department of Health and Human Services; 
E. Incorporated nonprofit home health agencies certified under the United States 
Social Security Act of 1965, Title XVIII, as amended; 
F. Incorporated nonprofit rural community health centers; 
G. Incorporated nonprofit dental health centers; 
H. 
Incorporated nonprofit organizations organized for the sole pl:lrpose of 
conducting medical research; 
I. 
Incorporated nonprofit organizations organized for the purpose of establishing 
and maintaining laboratories for scientific study and investigation in the field of 
biolog)' or ecology; 
J. Institutions incorporated as nonprofit corporations for the purpose of operating 
educational television or radio stations; and 
K. Schools; 
L. 
Incorporated nonprofit organizations or their affiliates whose purpose is to 
provide literacy assistance or free clinical assistance to children with dyslexia;-and~ 
M. 
Regularly organized churches or houses of religious 'Norship. 
Sec. A-12. 36 MRS A §1760, sub-§17 is repealed. 
Sec. A-13. 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§19, as amended by PL 2003, c. 588, §7, is 
further amended to read: 
• 
19. 
Schools. Rental charged for living quarters, sleeping or housekeeping 
accommodations to any student necessitated by attendance at a school. For purposes of 
this subsection, "school" means incorporated nonstock educational institutions, no part of 
the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any individual, including institutions 
empowered to confer educational, literary or academic degrees, that have a regular 
faculty, curriculum and organized body of pupils or students in attendance throughout the 
usual school year and that keep and furnish to students and others records required and 
accepted for entrance to schools of secondary, collegiate or graduate rank. 
Sec. A-14. 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§34, as amended by PL 2005, c. 218, §23, is 
repealed. 
Sec. A-15. 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§43, as amended by PL 1983, c. 828, §6, is 
repealed. 
Sec. A-16. 36 MRS A §1760, sub-§49, as amended by PL 2005, c. 622, §7, is 
repealed. 
Sec. A-17. 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§64, as amended by PL 2003, c. 588, §IO, is 
repealed. 
Sec. A-18. 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§65, as amended by PL 1993, c. 670, §6, is 
repealed. 
Sec. A-19. 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§71, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 533, §8, is 
repealed. 
Sec. A-20. 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§75, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 871, §15, is 
repealed. 
Sec. A-21. 36 MRS A §1760, sub-§76, as amended by PL 2003, c. 588, §Il, is 
repealed. 
Sec. A-22. 36 MRS A §1811, 2nd ~, as amended by PL 2003, c. 673, Pt. V, §23 
and affected by §29, is further amended to read: 
The tax imposed upon the sale and distribution of gas, water or electricity>-...ill: 
telecommunications services, by any public utility, the rates for which sale and 
distribution are established by the Public Utilities Commission, must be added to the rates 
so established. No tax may be imposed upon the sale or use of electrical energy, or water 
stored for the purpose of generating electricity, when the sale is to or by a wholly owned 
subsidiary by or to its parent corporation, except for electrical energy or water purchased 
for resale to or by such wholly owned subsidiary. 
Sec. A-23. Effective date. This Part takes effect January 1,2008. 
PART B 
Sec. B-1. 5 MRS A §1678 is enacted to read: 
§1678. Transfers from sales tax revenue 
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, beginning July 15,2008 and by 
the 15th of each month thereafter, the State Tax Assessor shall certify to the State 
Controller the amount of revenue collected as determined pursuant to Title 36, section 
1966. The State Controller, within 10 days of the assessor's certification, shall monthly 
transfer from the General Fund the following amounts for the following uses: 
1. County jails. Fifty percent of the revenue must be transferred to the County Jail 
Prisoner Support and Community Corrections Fund in the Department of Corrections 
established in Title 34-A, section 1210-A; 
2. 
Education. Forty percent of the revenue must be transferred to the Public 
Education Fund established in Title 20-A, section 15696; and 
3. Capital improvements. Ten percent of the revenue must be transferred to the 
Regional Capital Improvement Fund established in Title 30-A, section 6251. 
Sec. B-2. 20-A MRSA §15696 is enacted to read: 
§15696. Public Education Fund 
The Public Education Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established in 
the department as a non lapsing fund. The fund receives revenue from the transfers made 
pursuant to Title 5, section 1678. The State Controller shall monthly transfer the money 
in the fund to the General Fund. 
The amount transferred must be considered in 
calculating the requirement ofthe State to fund 55% of essential programs and services as 
required by section 15671. 
Sec. B-3. 30-A MRSA c. 233 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 233 
REGIONAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND 
§6251. Regional Capital Improvement Fund 
1. Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A. 
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial 
Services. 
B. "Department" means the Department of Administrative and Financial Services. 
C. "Fund" means the Regional Capital Improvement Fund established in subsection 
2. 
D. "Qualifying project" means a capital construction or renovation project. or the 
planning of such a project, designed to achieve significant and sustainable savings in 
the cost of delivering local and regional governmental services that reduces the 
• 
\ 
demand for property tax revenues through collaborative approaches to service 
delivery, enhanced regional delivery systems, consolidated administrative services, 
broad-based purchasing alliances and interIocal agreements. 
2. Fund established. The Regional Capital Improvement Fund is established as a 
nonlapsing fund in the department. The fund is administered by the department and must 
be held separate and apart from all other money, funds and accounts. 
3. Fund source. The fund consists of revenues transferred pursuant to Title 5, 
section 1678 and any funds received as contributions from private and public sources. 
Eligible investment earnings credited to the assets of the fund become part of the assets of 
the fund. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year must be carried 
forward to the next fiscal year. The fund is a dedicated, special revenue account. 
4. 
Uses of fund. 
Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, the fund is 
available solely for grants for qualifying projects as described in subsection 5. The 
department may use the fund to cover its costs of administration, including contracting 
for services to administer the grants. 
Grant funds may not be used for reimbursement of costs or expenses incurred prior to an 
award from the fund. 
5. 
Qualifying proiects. 
The commISSIOner shall develop by rulemaking a 
competitive grant program to provide grants to qualifying projects of cooperating county 
and municipal governments. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are maJor 
substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. B-4. 36 MRSA §1966 is enacted to read: 
§1966. Determination of revenue; rules 
The assessor shall adopt rules to determine the amount of revenue generated and 
attributable to the application of the sales tax to amusement and recreational services, 
consumer purchases of memberships in social organizations, personal services and 
transportation services purchased by consumers pursuant to section 1752 and to the repeal 
of the sales tax exemptions established in section 1760, former subsection 14; former 
subsection 16, paragraphs H, 1, K and M; and former subsections 17, 34, 43, 49, 64, 65, 
71, 75 and 76. Forms or reports required for the purpose of this section must be supplied 
by the assessor. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as 
defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
Part A affects the imposition of sales tax in the following ways: 
I. It expands the definition of "taxable service" for purposes of the imposition of 
sales tax to include amusement, recreational and personal services and consumer 
purchases of transportation services and professional, club or fraternal memberships. 
Under this Part, the provision of those services is subject to the 5% sales tax. The term 
"construction services" is also defined for the purpose of distinguishing nontaxable 
construction services from taxable personal services; and 
2. It eliminates the sales tax exemption on: sales of short-term publications; sales to 
institutions conducting medical research or scientific study of biology or ecology; private 
schools, churches, monasteries and convents; camp rentals; vending machine sales; sales 
to day-care centers, nursery schools, community action agencies, child abuse councils and 
child advocacy organizations; sales by schools and school-sponsored organizations; sales 
to state-chartered credit unions; meals and lodging provided to employees; and certain 
aircraft parts. 
• 
Part B dedicates the revenue generated by Part A to reduce property taxes by 
providing funding in the following ways: 
1. Forty percent of the revenue is transferred to the Public Education Fund to assist 
the State in achieving the goal of funding 55% of essential programs and services; 
2. Fifty percent of the revenue is transferred to the County Jail Prisoner Support and 
Community Corrections Fund in the Department of Corrections to be used for county jail 
operation costs; and 
3. Ten percent is transferred to the Regional Capital Improvement Fund, which is 
established in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services. The department 
is directed to establish a competitive grant program for capital construction or renovation 
projects, or the planning of such projects, designed to achieve significant and sustainable 
savings in the cost of delivering local and regional governmental services that reduces the 
demand for property tax revenues through collaborative approaches to service delivery, 
enhanced regional delivery systems, consolidated administrative services, broad-based 
purchasing alliances and interlocal agreements. 
•