An Act To Establish an Agriculture Education Registration Plate
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0986
Committee Amendment CA_A_H157 (House)
Amends: 7 MRSA §242

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "Pt " to H.P. 746, L.D. 986, Bill, "An Act To 
Establish an Agriculture Education Registration Plate" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, it is important to authorize the issuance of agriculture education plates as 
soon as possible in order to allow funds to be raised for agriculture education, which in 
tum will help support agriculture, a vital sector of the Maine economy; 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, , 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 5 MRS A §12004-G, sub-§4-C is enacted to read: 
4-C. 
Agriculture 
Education 
Maine Agriculture 
in the Classroom 
Council 
Paid from council 
funds in 
accordance with 
council bylaws 
MRS A §242 
Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §242 is enacted to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 746, L.D. 986 
§242. Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council 
1. Establishment. The Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council, established in 
Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 4-C and referred to in this section as "the council," 
has all the powers necessary to achieve the public purpose stated in subsection 2 and to 
cam out the powers conferred under this section. 
The exercise of powers conferred by this section is held to be the performance of 
essential government functions. 
A. Employees of the council may not be construed to be state employees for any 
purpose, including the state civil service provisions of Title 5, Part 2 and Title 5, 
chapter 372. 
B. The council may not be construed to be a state agency for any purpose, including 
the budget, accounts and control, auditing, purchasing or other provisions of Title 5, 
l3 
Part 4. 
C. Notwithstanding paragraphs A and B: 
(1) Employees of the council may be state employees for the purposes of the 
state retirement provisions of Title 5, Part 20 and the state employee health 
insurance program under Title 5, chapter 13, subchapter 2; and 
(2) For the purposes of the Maine Tort Claims Act, the council is a governmental 
entity and its employees and members are employees as those terms are defined 
in Title 14, section 8102. 
D. Employees of the council are entitled to use the services of the Central Fleet 
Management Division in accordance with provisions established for state agencies 
under Title 5, section 1830. 
2. Purpose. The pumose of the council is to promote an understanding of the food 
and fiber system in the State and the nation through the infusion of agricultural concepts 
into primary, secondary and postsecondary curricula. For the purposes of this section, 
"agricultural concepts" includes, but is not limited to: 
A. 
The importance of agriculture in the State and in the nation's history and 
development; 
B. The connections between geography, climate and agriculture; 
C. The relationship between technology and agricultural success and development; 
D. The economics of agriculture; 
E. The global aspects of agriculture; and 
F. The relationship of the food and fiber system to public policy issues. 
3. Membership. The council consists of9 members, appointed as follows: 
A. One representative of the department, appointed by the commissioner; 
B. 
One representative of the Department of Education, appointed by the 
Commissioner of Education; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
., .. ~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "~,, to H.P. , ... L.D .... 
C. Two members from the agricultural community with demonstrated interest in 
agriculture education, appointed by the commissioner; 
D. One registered or licensed dietitian with a demonstrated interest in agriculture 
education, appointed by the commissioner; 
E. One practicing kindergarten to grade 12 educator with knowledge of agriculture 
education, appointed by the Commissioner of Education; 
F. One educator who teaches or has taught agriculture courses at the secondary 
school level, appointed by the Commissioner of Education; 
G. One representative from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension with a 
demonstrated interest in agriculture education, appointed by the Director of the 
University of Maine Cooperative Extension; and 
H. One representative of the soil and water conservation districts, appointed by the 
chair of the State Conservation District Advisory Council. 
4. Term. Each member serves for a term of 4 years or until the member's successor 
is appointed. If a member is unable to complete a term, the appointing authority shall 
appoint a person to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term. 
5. Compensation. Members may be compensated for expenses as provided in the 
council's bylaws from money received under subsection 10. 
6. Chair. The council shall elect annually by majority vote one member of the 
council to serve as chair and one member to serve as vice-chair. 
7. Executive director; personnel. The council may appoint by majority vote an 
executive director who is the council's chief administrator and who serves at the pleasure 
of the council. The executive director may employ, as the council directs, additional staff 
who serve at the pleasure of the executive director. The salaries paid to the executive 
director and other staff are fixed by the council and are not subject to the personnel laws 
of the State. 
8. Powers and duties. The council shall expend funds received under subsection 10 
to provide teacher training and educational resource materials, collect and distribute 
appropriate agricultural information and materials from industry and trade groups and 
incorporate new and innovative ideas and proven outreach strategies to increase 
agricultural literacy among teachers and their students. 
The council shall work 
cooperatively with state agencies, the University of Maine System, farm organizations, 
agribusinesses and private individuals and groups to collect, organize, develop and 
promote the use of agricultural curriculum materials in schools and learning centers. 
The council may enter into contracts with any local, state, federal or private agency, 
department, firm, corporation or association as necessary to carry out the purposes of this 
section. 
9. Debt. A debt or obligation incurred by the council is not a debt or obligation of 
the State. 
10. 
Receipt of money and property. 
The council may accept grants or 
contributions of money or other things of value from any source, public or private. The 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
",-'" 
I 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 746, L.D. 986 
council receives funds from the sale of agriculture education plates pursuant to Title 
29-A, section 456-0. The grants, receipts and other contributions must be held by the 
council and used to carry out the purposes of this section, subject to any condition under 
which the grant or contribution was accepted by the council. Funds may be used to 
compensate members of the council for expenses in accordance with the council's bylaws. 
Funds received under this subsection are not state funds. 
11. Books and records. The council shall keep books, records and accounts of all 
its activities, which must be open to inspection and audit by the State at all times. An 
independent accountant shall conduct an annual accounting review of the financial 
records of the council and report the results of the review to the council, the 
commissioner, the Treasurer of State and the Legislature. 
12. Bylaws. The council may adopt bylaws to govern its functions.' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §456-0 in subsection 1 in the 3rd line (page 1, line 13 
in L.O.) by inserting after the following: "section 501" the following: " section 504, 
subsection 1 or section 505' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §456-D in subsection 2 in paragraph A in the first line 
(page 1, line 21 in L.O.) by striking out the following: "Agriculture Education Plate 
Fund" and inserting the following: 'Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §456-D in subsection 4 in paragraph A in the first line 
(page 1, line 35 in L.O.) by striking out the following: "Agriculture Education Plate 
Fund" and inserting the following: 'Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §456-D in subsection 6 in the 5th line (page 2, line 11 
in L.D.) by striking out the following: "Agriculture Education Plate Fund" and inserting 
the following: 'Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §456-0 by striking out all of subsection 8 (page 2, 
lines 17 to 19 in L.O.) and inserting the following: 
'8. Eligibility; trucks. An agriculture education registration plate may be issued for: 
A. A vehicle that qualifies for a specialty license plate under section 468, subsection 
8; and 
B. A truck registered under section 504, subsection 1 or section 505.' 
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following: 
'Sec. 3. Staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, 
section 242, subsection 4, initial appointments to the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom 
Council made pursuant to Title 7, section 242, subsection 3 are for terms specified as 
follows: 
1. The 2 initial appointments made pursuant to Title 7, section 242, subsection 3, 
paragraphs A and B are for terms of 4 years; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
t-i~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" R " 
to H.P. 746, L.D. 986 
2. The 2 initial appointments made pursuant to Title 7, section 242, subsection 3, 
paragraph C, one member is appointed to a term of 2 years and one member is appointed 
to a term of 4 years; 
3. 
The initial appointments made pursuant to Title 7, section 242, subsection 3, 
paragraphs D and G are for terms of 2 years; 
4. The initial appointments made pursuant to Title 7, section 242, subsection 3, 
paragraphs E and F are for terms of 3 years; and 
5. 
The initial appointment made pursuant to Title 7, section 242, subsection 3, 
paragraph H is for a term of one year. 
Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. 
The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF 
Administration - Motor Vehicles 0077 
Initiative: Allocates funds on a one-time basis for the production and manufacture of the 
agriculture education registration plate. 
HIGHWAY FUND 
All Other 
HIGHWAY FUND TOTAL 
2007-08 
$17,201 
$17,201 
2008-09 
$0 
$0 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the biB by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment: 
1. Allows agriculture education registration plates to be issued for commercial trucks 
and farm trucks; 
2. Replaces the provision of the bill establishing the Agriculture Education Plate 
Fund with provisions establishing the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council. The 
council will receive revenues generated by the specialty plate created by the bill and may 
receive revenues from other sources; 
3. Adds an appropriations and allocations section; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT'~ "to H.P. 746, L.D. 986 
4. Adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause to the bill. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/18/07 Mac:.. 
Net Cost (Savings) 
Highway Fund 
LD986 
LR 1034(02) 
An Act To Establish an Agriculture Education Registration Plate 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "~,, 
Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2007-08 
$7,201 
2008-09 
($7,000) 
Projections 
2009-10 
($7,000) 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Highway Fund 
$17,201 
$0 
$0 
Revenue 
Highway Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$10,000 
$10,000 
$7,000 
$11,500 
$7,000 
$11,500 
Projections 
2010-11 
($7,000) 
$0 
$7,000 
$11,500 
The Administration - Motor Vehicles program within the Department of the Secretary of State will require a one-time 
Highway Fund allocation of $17,201 in fiscal year 2007-08 for the costs of producing and manufacturing agriculture 
education registration plates. The sale of these plates will increase Highway Fund revenue; the estimated amounts are 
$10,000 in fiscal years 2007-08 and $7,000 in each fiscal year thereafter. Dedicated revenue will also be collected by 
the Secretary of State for the newly established Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council. The amounts collected 
will be paid as grants by the Secretary of State to the council and are expected to be $10,000 in fiscal year 2007-08 
and $11,500 in each fiscal year thereafter. 
The Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council is established as a public entity that is not to be part of Maine State 
government but is to be treated as though it were for certain services, including having its employees participate in the 
Maine State Retirement System and the state employee health insurance program and having use of vehicles through 
the Central Fleet Management system. Revenue generated by the sale of specialty plates will not be sufficient to fund 
the bill's requirements. The council is allowed to accept private and public funds. The degree to which the council is 
successful in raising funds in a sustainable way will determine the degree to which the council may participate in the 
benefits and services required in the bill. 
LRI034(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1