An Act To Strengthen Enforcement Standards for Potatoes
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1586
Committee Amendment CA_A_H632 (House)
Amends: 7 MRSA §951-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 1157, L.D. 1586, Bill, "An Act To 
Strengthen Enforcement Standards for Potatoes" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §951-A, first ~, as amended by PL 1985, c. 184, is further 
amended to read: 
Ne A person may not plant seed petate potatoes in the State, the product of which is 
intended for sale, may be plaated in the State in lots of one or more acres unless that seed 
is certified in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner. These rules may 
include without limitation requirements for filing reports with the commissioner and 
requirements for filing records to the commissioner or l:lffi the commissioner's designee, 
upon request, whleh that demonstrate that the potatoes se planted have been properly 
certified. A person, firm or corporation that plants potatoes in violation of this section 
shall be ~ subject to a civil penalty fine of not less than $20 and $1,000 plus not more 
than $-tOO $400 per acre for each acre or part of an acre planted in violation of this 
section; provided that faillH'e. Failure to file complete and accurate reports or failure to 
provide complete and accurate records in accordance with the rules adopted by the 
commissioner shall be ~ an additional violation resulting in a separate civil penalty fine 
of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 for each such failure. Any civil penalty fine 
collected under this section shall be ~ payable to the Treasurer of State and credited 
without lapsing to the commissioner for the enforcement of this section. 
The 
commissioner shall adopt and may amend rules consistent with the Maine Administrative 
Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375, to implement this section. 
In addition to the 
enforcement powers and penalties established in this section, the commissioner may issue 
subpoenas to any individual in order to compel delivery of any reports or records whleh 
are required under this section. These subpoenas shall be are enforceable by any court of 
competent jurisdiction.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMlITEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 1157, L.D. 1586 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, clarifies the bill's 
intent that the fine for violating the provision of law regarding minimum standards for 
planting potatoes in the State is $1,000 plus not more than $400 per acre for each acre or 
part of an acre planted in violation of the law. 
c j')LAL ~,v 1.l:.1{£{,JGlRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 02119/14 
~aC!-
LD 1586 
LR 2583(02) 
An Act To Strengthen Enforcement Standards for Potatoes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A' ( H-' 31) 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Current biennium revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Allowing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry access to planted fields for auditing purposes and 
raising minimum fines from $20 to $1,000, as well as raising the maximum fine on planted acres from $100 to $400 
per acre for planting potatoes using uncertified seeds, will increase revenue to the department beginning in fiscal year 
2014-15. 
LR2S83(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1