An Act To Expand Affordable Heating Investments with Maine's Public Resources
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1838
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: YOUNGBLOOD
Amends: 12 MRSA §1849, 35-A MRSA §10124

Legislative Document 
No. 1838 
S.P. 741 
In Senate, March 20, 2014 
An Act To Expand Affordable Heating Investments with Maine's 
Public Resources 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator YOUNGBLOOD of Penobscot.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, it is necessary to enact this legislation as early as possible to alleviate the 
burden of high residential heating costs on Maine families; 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.  12 MRSA §1849, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 and 
Pt. C, §10, is further amended to read: 
1.  Revenue sources.  Except as provided in paragraph A and Title 35-A, section 
10124, the bureau must receive all money, securities and other things of value accruing to 
the State: from the sale of timber and grass and other rights and things of value from the 
public reserved lands under the care, custody, control or management of the bureau; in 
payment for timber, grass and other things of value cut or taken by trespassers; from 
forfeiture of a bond or a deposit when a contractor does not fulfill the terms of the 
contract or comply with state regulations; or as a result of a compromise or settlement of 
any claim. 
A.  The first $20,000 in the aggregate of any money accruing from the alienation of 
rights to mine upon public reserved land, or other income arising out of mining 
operations, that is actually received during any fiscal year, and every portion thereof 
accruing from these mining operations, must be paid to the Division of Geology, 
Natural Areas and Coastal Resources. 
Sec. 2.  35-A MRSA §10124 is enacted to read: 
§10124.  Affordable Heating from Maine's Forests Fund 
1.  Fund established.  The Affordable Heating from Maine's Forests Fund, referred 
to in this section as "the fund," is established.  The fund is a nonlapsing fund administered 
by the trust in accordance with this section.  Any interest earned on funds in the fund 
must be credited to the fund, and funds not spent in any fiscal year remain in the fund to 
be used in accordance with this section.  The trust receives and deposits in the fund funds 
from the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund, established in Title 12, section 1849, 
subsection 2. 
2.  Funding source.  All money deposited in the fund must be used for investments 
in measures that reduce residential heating costs.  The measures must be consistent with 
the measures that lower residential heating demand in section 10109, subsection 4, 
paragraph A.  The Treasurer of State shall transfer funds from the Public Reserved Lands 
Management Fund, established in Title 12, section 1849, subsection 2, to the fund in 
accordance with this subsection. 
A.  On March 1, 2014, the Treasurer of State shall transfer $500,000 from the Public 
Reserved Lands Management Fund to the fund. 
B.  On July 1, 2014, the Treasurer of State shall transfer $500,000 from the Public 
Reserved Lands Management Fund to the fund. 
C.  On July 1, 2015 and on July 1st in each year thereafter, the Treasurer of State 
shall transfer from the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund to the fund: 
(1)  If more than 170,000 cords of wood were harvested from the public reserved 
lands during the prior fiscal year, $1,250,000; or 
(2)  If 170,000 cords of wood or less were harvested from the public reserved 
lands during the prior fiscal year, $1,000,000. 
For purposes of this paragraph, "cord" has the same meaning as in Title 10, section 
2302, subsection 1. 
3.  Rulemaking.  The board may adopt rules to implement this section.  Rules 
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes the Affordable Heating from Maine's Forests Fund, administered 
by the Efficiency Maine Trust.  The fund receives revenue from the sale of timber and 
other things of value from Maine's public reserved lands.  In 2014, a total of $1,000,000 
will be transferred from the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund to the Affordable 
Heating from Maine's Forests Fund, and in subsequent years, $1,250,000 or $1,000,000 
will be transferred annually depending on the quantity of wood harvested.  The Efficiency 
Maine Trust is required to use the funding for measures that reduce residential heating 
costs.