An Act To
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0247
Committee Amendment CA_A_H442 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 200, L.D. 247, Bill, "An Act To 
Amend the Gift Card Laws" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 33 MRS A §1953, sub-§l, ~G, as amended by PL 2007, c. 696, § 1, is 
further amended to read: 
G. A gift obligation or stored-value card, 2 years after December 31 st of the year in 
which the obligation or the most recent transaction involving the obligation or stored-
value card occurred, whichever is later, including the initial issuance and any 
subsequent addition of value to the obligation or stored-value card. A period of 
limitation may not be imposed on the OYlmer's right to redeem the gift obligation or 
stored value card. The amount unclaimed is 60% of tile gift obligation's or stored 
value card's face value. Notv/ithstanding section 1956, fees or charges may not be 
imposed on gift obligations or stored value cards, except that the issuer may charge a 
transaction fee for the initial issuance and for each occurrence of adding value to an 
existing gift obligation or stored value card. These transaction fees must be disclosed 
in a separate Yl/riting prior to the initial issuance or referenced on the gift obligation or 
stored value card. Beginning November 1,2008, if the gift obligation or stored value 
card, other than a prepaid telephone service card, a gift obligation or nonreloadable 
stored value card with an initial value of $5 or less or a stored value card that is not 
purchased but provided as a promotion or as a refu.nd for merchandise returned 
,vithout a receipt, is redeemed in person and a balance of less than $5 remains 
follO',ving redemption, at the consumer's request the merchant redeeming tile gift 
obligation or stored value card must refund tile balance in cash to the consumer. This 
paragraph does not apply to prefunded bailie cards; 
(1) The amount unclaimed is 60% of the gift obligation's or stored-value card's 
face value. 
(2) A gift obligation or stored-value card sold on or after December 31, 2011 is 
not presumed abandoned if the gift obligation or stored-value card was sold by a 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
."" 
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l3 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 200, L.D. 247 
single issuer who in the past calendar year sold no more than $250,000 in face 
value of gift obligations or stored-value cards. 
Sales of gift obligations and 
stored-value cards are considered sales by a single issuer if the sales were by 
businesses that operate either: 
(a) Under common ownership or control with another business or businesses 
in the State; or 
(b) As franchised outlets of a parent business. 
(3) A period oflimitation may not be imposed on the owner's right to redeem the 
gift obligation or stored-value card. 
(4) Notwithstanding section 1956, fees or charges may not be imposed on gift 
obligations or stored-value cards, except that the issuer may charge a transaction 
fee for the initial issuance and for each occurrence of adding value to an existing 
gift obligation or stored-value card. These transaction fees must be disclosed in a 
separate writing prior to the initial issuance or referenced on the gift obligation or 
stored-value card. 
(5) Beginning November 1, 2008, if the gift obligation or stored-value card is 
redeemed in' person and a balance of less than $5 remains following redemption, 
at the consumer's request the merchant redeeming the gift obligation or 
stored-value card must refund the balance in cash to the consumer. 
This 
subparagraph does not apply to a prepaid telephone service card, a gift obligation 
or nonreloadable stored-value card with an initial value of $5 or less or a stored-
value card that is not purchased but provided as a promotion or as a refund for 
merchandise returned without a receipt, 
(6) This paragraph does not apply to prefunded bank cards;' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. 
This amendment provides that gift obligations and stored-value cards sold on or after 
December 31, 2011 are not presumed abandoned unless a single issuer sells at least 
$250,000 in face value of gift obligations and stored-value cards in the previous calendar 
year. Sales of gift obligations and stored-value cards are considered sales by a single 
issuer if the sales were by businesses that operate either under common ownership or 
control with another business or businesses in the State or as franchised outlets of a 
parent business. 
This amendment also reformats the provision on gift obligations and stored-value 
cards to make it more readable, but makes no other changes to current law. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Revenue 
General Fund 
, 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 05/20111 Mac 
LD 247 
LR 909(02) 
An Act To Amend the Gift Card Laws 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 14" 
Committee: JUdiciary 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2011-12 
FY 2012-13 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Projections 
FY 2013-14 
$75,000 
($75,000) 
Projections 
FY 2014-15 
$75,000 
($75,000) 
Providing that gift obligation and stored value cards sold on or after December 31, 2011 are only presumed abandoned 
if the issuer sells at least $250,000 in face value of gift obligations and stored value cards during the previous calendar 
year will reduce General Fund revenue by an estimated $75,000 starting in fiscal year 2013-14. 
LR0909(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of I