An Act To Fund Pesticide Education in the State (ANER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1798
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: BLANCHARD, SCHNEIDER, CLARK, MAZUREK, MILLER, PIEH, PIOITI, SCHATZ, TARDY, THERIAULT

Legislative Document 
No. 1798 
H.P.1252 
House of Representatives, March 29, 2007 
An Act To Fund Pesticide Education in the State 
(ANER DEADLINE) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative BLANCHARD of Old Town. 
Cosponsored by Senator SCHNEIDER of Penobscot and 
7J1~ 
/J7.11l~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representati ves: CAIN of Orono, CLARK of Millinocket, MAZUREK of Rockland, MILLER 
of Somerville, PIEH of Bremen, PIOITI of Unity, SCHATZ of Blue Hill, TARDY of 
Newport, THERIAULT of Madawaska. 
Printed nn recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA c. 415 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 415 
MAINE PESTICIDE EDUCATION FUND 
§2421. Fund established 
The Maine Pesticide Education Fund, referred to in this chapter as "the fund," is 
established. The fund consists of revenues received pursuant to Title 36, chapter 717-A 
and any funds received as contributions from private and public sources. The fund, to be 
accounted within the department, must be held separate and apart from all other money, 
funds and accounts. 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. 
§2422. Expenditures from fund; distribution 
Funds in the Maine Pesticide Education Fund must be distributed by the department 
as follows: 
1. Integrated Pest Management Fund. Three percent of the money in the fund to 
the Integrated Pest Management Fund established under section 2405; 
2. Pesticide education and pesticide pick-up program. Forty-seven percent of the 
money in the fund to the Board of Pesticides Control for pesticide education programs, 
applicator licensing and obsolete pesticide collection programs; and 
3. Pest management education. Fifty percent of the money in the fund to the 
University of Maine Cooperative Extension for pest management and pesticide education 
programs, including, but not limited to, homeowner integrated pest management, school 
pest management, medical and veterinary facility pest management, pesticide application 
and use education and community health-related pest management programs. 
Sec. 2. 36 MRSA c. 717-A is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 717-A 
PESTICIDE EDUCATION FEE 
§4811. Pesticide education fee 
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
I 
A. "Consumer container of pesticides" means a container of pesticides intended for 
consumer use as defined by rule by the Board of Pesticides Control. The rules must 
exclude any container labeled for agricultural, industrial or commercial use only. 
The rules must also exclude any container of paint, stain or wood preservative 
bearing a federal Environmental Protection Agency pesticide product registration 
number. 
B. "Pesticides" has the same meaning as in Title 22, section 1471-C. 
2. 
Imposition. Beginning January 30, 2008, a fee of 15¢ is imposed on each 
consumer container of pesticides sold at retail in this State. The State Tax Assessor, in 
consultation with the Integrated Pest Management Council established in Title 7, section 
2404 and the Board of Pesticides Control established in Title 22, chapter 258-A, shall 
establish by rule procedures to implement this section. 
3. Collection and payment. The fee under subsection 2 must be collected by the 
retail seller at the time of sale and paid to the State Tax Assessor, in accordance with 
rules established by the State Tax Assessor, at the same time as sales taxes are reported 
and paid pursuant to chapter 219. 
4. 
Proceeds. 
The State Tax Assessor shall annually account for the cost of 
implementing this section and may deduct that amount from gross collections under this 
section and apply that amount to reimburse the State Tax Assessor. 
The State Tax 
Assessor shall, on a quarterly basis, provide the net amount of collections under this 
section to the Maine Pesticide Education Fund established under Title 7, chapter 415. 
5. 
Rules. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as 
defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes the Maine Pesticide Education Fund. Money in the fund is to be 
distributed to the Integrated Pest Management Fund, the Board of Pesticides Control and 
the University of Maine Cooperative Extension for pest management education programs. 
The fund is funded by a 15¢ per container fee on the retail sale of pesticides.