Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0563
Committee: Taxation
Sponsors: TRAHAN, EBERLE, COURTNEY, GOODALL, JACKSON, RAYE, DAVIS, DUCHESNE, KNIGHT, MARTIN

Legislative Document 
No. 563 
S.P. 155 
In Senate, February 15, 2011 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Use a Portion of the Sales and Use Tax for the Protection 
of Maine's Fish and Wildlife 
Reference to the Committee on Taxation suggested and ordered printed. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator TRAHAN of Lincoln. 
Cosponsored by Representative EBERLE of South Portland and 
Senators: COURTNEY of York, GOODALL of Sagadahoc, JACKSON of Aroostook, 
President RAYE of Washington, Representatives: DAVIS of Sangerville, DUCHESNE of 
Hudson, KNIGHT of Livermore Falls, MARTIN of Eagle Lake. 
Constitutional amendment. Resolved:  Two thirds of each branch of the 
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be 
proposed: 
Constitution, Art. IX, §24 is enacted to read: 
Section 24.  Revenues dedicated to fish and wildlife resources protection.  
In addition to the appropriation of funds required under section 22, 0.125% of revenues 
raised by means of the sales and use tax laws must be allocated to the Department of 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or any successor agency responsible for fisheries and 
wildlife management, other than commercial marine fisheries management, and may be 
used only for the protection of the State's fish and wildlife resources. 
; and be it further 
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date. 
Resolved:  That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their 
respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for 
holding a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November 
following the passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment 
proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question: 
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to require that one-eighth of one 
percent of the revenues collected through the sales and use tax be dedicated to the 
protection of the State's fish and wildlife resources?" 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question 
and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding 
square below the word "Yes" or "No."  The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and 
declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of 
State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature.  The Governor shall 
review the returns.  If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the 
amendment, the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment 
becomes part of the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation; and be it 
further 
Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State 
shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies 
of this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum. 
SUMMARY 
This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to allocate 0.125% of 
revenues raised by means of the Sales and Use Tax Law to the Department of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife for the sole purpose of protecting the State's fish and wildlife 
resources.