An Act To Waive Tolls on the Maine Turnpike for People Who Are Traveling for Treatment of Catastrophic Illnesses
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0592
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: RICHARDSON, MAZUREK, ROSEN
Amends: 23 MRSA §1984

Legislative Document 
No. 592 
S.P. 183 
February 6, 2007 
An Act To Waive Tolls on the Maine Turnpike for People Who Are 
Traveling for Treatment of Catastrophic Illnesses 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator SA V AGE of Knox. 
Cosponsored by Representative RICHARDSON of Warren and 
Representatives: MAZUREK of Rockland, ROSEN of Bucksport. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 23 MRSA §1984 is enacted to read: 
. §1984. Toll-free travel on turnpike for catastrophic medical reasons 
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A. "Catastrophic illness" means an unforeseen, prolonged and extended illness or 
medical condition, the medical and associated travel expenses of which are not 
covered by any other state or federal program or any insurance contract. 
B. "Free travel" means round-trip travel without charge on the Maine Turnpike for 
one personal vehicle to transport a resident eligible under subsection 2 to a scheduled 
medical appointment. 
C. "Medically necessary" means prescribed by a physician and reasonably necessary 
to treat a catastroph ic illness. 
D. 
"Unforeseen, prolonged and extended illness or medical condition" means a 
severe illness or medical condition of a life-threatening nature, the treatment of which 
is expected to require a series of procedures or therapeutic interventions at regular 
intervals extending over a period of months, including, but not limited to, cancer 
requiring chemotherapy or radiation treatments or kidney disease requiring dialysis 
treatments. 
2. Eligibility. Residents of the State traveling on the Maine Turnpike are eligible for 
free travel when traveling to and from regularly scheduled, medically necessary 
appointments with medical care providers if those appointments pertain to a catastrophic 
illness. Free travel under this section is not available for routine visits to medical care 
providers or to meet transportation needs arising from an emergency, medical or 
otherwise. Free travel under this section is available only upon approved application. 
Reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to application for free travel pursuant to this 
section is prohibited. 
3. Rulemaking authorized. The Maine Turnpike Authority may, pursuant to the 
Maine Administrative Procedure Act, adopt rules necessary to interpret and administer 
this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as 
defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. The Maine Turnpike Authority also may 
develop, adopt, use and from time to time amend forms for use in connection with the 
administration of this section. The development, adoption, use and amendment of these 
forms are exempt from the rule-making process. 
SUMMARY 
This bill allows a person to travel on the Maine Turnpike free of charge if that person 
is a Maine resident and is traveling on the turnpike for treatment of a catastrophic illness. 
It is modeled after Public Law 2005, chapter 472, which was enacted last session and 
I 
allowed free ferry service for people traveling on ferries for treatment of catastrophic 
illnesses.