An Act To Revise the Target Prices for the Dairy Stabilization Program
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1905
Amends: 7 MRSA §3153-D

Legislative Document 
No. 1905 
H.P. 1409 
House of Representatives, April 2, 2012 
An Act To Revise the Target Prices for the Dairy Stabilization 
Program 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reported by the Majority from the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation 
and Forestry pursuant to Public Law 2009, chapter 467, section 16. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, milk producers are receiving milk payments that are below their short-run 
break-even costs; and 
Whereas, all sectors of the dairy industry and rural economies are in jeopardy; and 
Whereas, it is in the State's economic interest to maintain a viable dairy industry 
and in the public interest to have a secure food supply; 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, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §3153-D, as amended by PL 2009, c. 467, §5, is further amended 
to read: 
§3153-D.  Transfer of revenues 
On or before the 18th day of each month, the administrator of the Maine Milk Pool 
shall certify the amounts subtract the amount in the Maine Milk Pool, Other Special 
Revenue Funds account that is available for distribution for dairy stabilization support 
from the total amount to be distributed for the previous month pursuant to section 3153-B 
and certify this amount to the State Controller, who shall transfer the certified monthly 
amount when certified from General Fund undedicated revenue to the Maine Milk Pool, 
Other Special Revenue Funds account. 
Sec. 2.  PL 2009, c. 467, §9 is repealed. 
Sec. 3.  Interim target prices.  Beginning July 1, 2012 and until the Maine Milk 
Commission updates the Maine producer cost-of-production data and adopts new tiers of 
production and target prices in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, 
section 3153-B, subsection 3, the production levels for each tier and the target prices for 
milk producers in the State are as follows: 
1.  For the first 16,790 hundredweight produced per year by each producer, the target 
price is $19.64 per hundredweight; 
2.  For production from 16,791 hundredweight to 49,079 hundredweight per year by 
each producer, the target price is $20.36 per hundredweight; 
3.  For production from 49,080 hundredweight to 76,800 hundredweight per year, the 
target price is $18.01 per hundredweight; and 
4.  For production in excess of 76,800 hundredweight per year by each producer, the 
target price is $17.83 per hundredweight. 
Sec. 4.  Transfer of funds; Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural 
Resources.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on or before May 15, 2012, the 
State Controller shall transfer $150,000 from the Milk Commission program, Other 
Special Revenue Funds account to the Milk Commission program, Maine Milk Pool, 
Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Agriculture, Food and 
Rural Resources for the purpose of supporting the dairy stabilization program under the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 3153-B. 
Sec. 5.  Transfer of funds; Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural 
Resources.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on or before May 15, 2012, the 
State Controller shall transfer $200,000 from the Board of Pesticides Control program, 
Other Special Revenue Funds account to the Milk Commission program, Maine Milk 
Pool, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Agriculture, Food 
and Rural Resources for the purpose of supporting the dairy stabilization program under 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 3153-B. 
Sec. 6.  Transfer of funds; Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural 
Resources.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on or before May 15, 2012, the 
State Controller shall transfer $100,000 from the Beverage Container Enforcement Fund, 
Other Special Revenue Funds account to the Milk Commission program, Maine Milk 
Pool, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Agriculture, Food 
and Rural Resources for the purpose of supporting the dairy stabilization program under 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 3153-B. 
Sec. 7.  Transfer of funds; Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural 
Resources.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on or before May 15, 2012, the 
State Controller shall transfer $150,000 from the Office of the Commissioner program, 
Departmentwide Indirect, Other Special Revenue Funds account to the Milk Commission 
program, Maine Milk Pool, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department 
of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources for the purpose of supporting the dairy 
stabilization program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 3153-B. 
Sec. 8.  Transfer of funds; Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural 
Resources.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on or before May 15, 2012, the 
State Controller shall transfer $30,000 from the Division of Plant Industry program, Other 
Special Revenue Funds account to the Milk Commission program, Maine Milk Pool, 
Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Agriculture, Food and 
Rural Resources for the purpose of supporting the dairy stabilization program under the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 3153-B. 
Sec. 9.  Transfer of funds; Department of Conservation.  Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, on or before May 15, 2012, the State Controller shall transfer 
$80,000 from the Division of Forest Protection program, Other Special Revenue Funds 
account within the Department of Conservation to the Milk Commission program, Maine 
Milk Pool, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Agriculture, 
Food and Rural Resources for the purpose of supporting the dairy stabilization program 
under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 3153-B. 
Sec. 10.  Transfer of funds; Department of Conservation.  Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, on or before May 15, 2012, the State Controller shall transfer 
$110,000 from the Office of the Commissioner program, Publications Revolving Fund, 
Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Conservation to the Milk 
Commission program, Maine Milk Pool, Other Special Revenue Funds account within 
the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources for the purpose of supporting 
the dairy stabilization program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 3153-B. 
Sec. 11.  Transfer of funds; Department of Conservation.  Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, on or before May 15, 2012, the State Controller shall transfer 
$10,000 from the Office of the Commissioner program, Other Special Revenue Funds 
account within the Department of Conservation to the Milk Commission program, Maine 
Milk Pool, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Agriculture, 
Food and Rural Resources for the purpose of supporting the dairy stabilization program 
under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 3153-B. 
Sec. 12.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Milk Commission 0188 
Initiative: Adjusts allocation as a result of updating the target prices used to make payouts 
through the dairy stabilization program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 
3153-B. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill is the majority report of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry authorized under Public Law 2009, chapter 467, section 16.  It 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
2011-12
2012-13
All Other 
$0
$2,382,403
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
$0
$2,382,403
revises the target prices used to calculate dairy stabilization payments under the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 3153-B. It transfers funds to the Maine Milk Pool, Other 
Special Revenue Funds account and directs the administrator of the Maine Milk Pool to 
subtract funds available prior to certifying to the State Controller the amount needed from 
the General Fund for distribution under the dairy stabilization program under the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 3153-B. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
Approved: 03/28/12
LD 1905
LR 2865(01)
FY 2011-12
FY 2012-13
Projections 
FY 2013-14
Projections 
FY 2014-15
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund
$0
$1,552,403
$525,818
$525,818
Appropriations/Allocations
Other Special Revenue Funds
$0
$2,382,403
$525,818
$525,818
Revenue
General Fund
$0
($1,552,403)
($525,818)
($525,818)
Other Special Revenue Funds
$0
$1,552,403
$525,818
$525,818
Transfers
Other Special Revenue Funds
$0
$0
$0
$0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This legislation updates target prices for each tier used to make payouts through the Dairy Stabilization Program.  It 
also transfers $830,000 from various Other Special Revenue Funds accounts to the Maine Milk Pool Other Special 
Revenue Funds account which would decrease the General Fund transfer for dairy stabilization payments by that 
amount in fiscal year 2012-13.  It would result in a decrease in General Fund revenue of $1,552,403 in fiscal year 
2012-13 and a corresponding increase in Other Special Revenue Funds revenue to the Department of Agriculture, 
Food and Rural Resources.  The bill includes an Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $2,382,403 in fiscal year 
2012-13 in order to make increased payouts through the program.
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
An Act To Revise the Target Prices for the Dairy Stabilization Program
Fiscal Note for Original Bill
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
LR2865(01) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1