An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Ensure Clean Water and Safe Communities
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1455
Committee Amendment CA_A_S558 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A " to S.P. 539, L.D, 1455, Bill, "An Act To 
Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Ensure Clean Water and Safe Communities" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Authorization of bonds. The Treasurer of State is authorized, under the 
direction of the Governor, to issue bonds in the name and on behalf of the State in an 
amount not exceeding $10,000,000 for the purposes described in section 6 of this Act. 
The bonds are a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State. The bonds may not run for 
a period longer than 10 years from the date of the original issue of the bonds. 
Sec. 2. Records of bonds issued; Treasurer of State. The Treasurer of State 
shall ensure that an account of each bond is kept showing the number of the bond, the 
name of the successful bidder to whom sold, the amount received for the bond, the date of 
sale and the date when payable. 
Sec. 3. Sale; how negotiated; proceeds appropriated. The Treasurer of State 
may negotiate the sale of the bonds by direction of the Governor, but no bond may be 
loaned, pledged or hypothecated on behalf of the State. The proceeds of the sale of the 
bonds, which must be held by the Treasurer of State and paid by the Treasurer of State 
upon warrants drawn by the State Controller, are appropriated solely for the purposes set 
forth in this Act. Any unencumbered balances remaining at the completion of the project 
in this Act lapse to the Office of the Treasurer of State to be used for the retirement of 
general obligation bonds. 
Sec. 4. Interest and debt retirement. The Treasurer of State shall pay interest 
due or accruing on any bonds issued under this Act and all sums coming due for payment 
of bonds at maturity. 
Sec. 5. Disbursement of bond proceeds. The proceeds of the bonds must be 
expended as set out in this Act, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 539, L.D. 1455 
Sec. 6. Allocations from Highway Fund and General Fund bond issue. 
The proceeds of the sale of the bonds authorized under this Act must be expended as 
designated in the following schedule. 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
Provides funds for vital public improvement projects including stream crossing or 
culvert upgrades. 
Total 
$5,400,000 
Provides funds to restore state wetlands. 
Total 
$400,000 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
Provides funds for the revolving loan fund for wastewater treatment facilities, which 
will make the State eligible to secure federal grants. 
Total 
$2,400,000 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
Provides funds for the revolving loan fund for drinking water systems, which will 
make the State eligible to secure federal grants. 
Total 
$1,800,000 
Sec. 7. Contingent upon ratification of bond issue. Sections 1 to 6 do not 
become effective unless the people of the State ratify the issuance of the bonds as set 
forth in this Act. 
Sec. 8. Appropriation balances at year-end. At the end of each fiscal year, all 
unencumbered appropriation balances representing state money carry forward. 
Bond 
proceeds that have not been expended within 10 years after the date of the sale of the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 539, L.D. 1455 
bonds lapse to the Office of the Treasurer of State to be used for the retirement of general 
obligation bonds. 
Sec. 9. Bonds authorized but not issued. Any bonds authorized but not issued 
within 5 years of ratification of this Act are deauthorized and may not be issued, except 
that the Legislature may, within 2 years after the expiration of that 5-year period, extend 
the period for issuing any remaining unissued bonds for an additional amount of time not 
to exceed 5 years. 
Sec. 10. Referendum for ratification; submission at election; form of 
question; effective date. This Act must be submi tted to the legal voters of the State at 
a statewide election held in the month of November following passage of this Act. 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, 
to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Act by voting on the following question: 
"Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue to ensure clean water and safe 
communities across Maine; to protect drinking water sources; to restore 
wetlands; to create jobs and vital public infrastructure; and to strengthen 
the State's long-term economic base and competitive advantage?" 
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 a 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 a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of this Act, the 
Governor shall proclaim the result without delay and this Act becomes effective 30 days 
after the date of the proclamation. 
The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all 
ballots, returns and copies of this Act necessary to carry out the purposes of this 
referendum. ' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment authorizes a bond issue in the amount of $10,000,000 in order to 
make cost-effective investments in natural and built infrastructure to encourage 
improvements to the State's water resources and provide a host of benefits for 
communities across Maine, including ensuring an abundant and high-quality drinking 
water supply; restoring wetlands; and strengthening the State's long-term economic base 
and competitive advantage. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See Attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/17/14 .?!Yae 
LD 1455 
LR 1625(02) 
An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Ensure Clean Water and Safe Communities 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'W' (s - 55 R) 
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs 
Bond Issues 
General Fund - Non-Taxable 
General Fund - Taxable 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Term (years) 
Principal 
$5,800,000 
$4,200,000 
Rate (%) 
4.0% 
4.5% 
Interest 
$1,276,000 
$1,039,500 
Referendum Costs 
MonthlY ear 
Election Type 
Question 
Length 
Nov-14 
General 
Bond Issue 
Standard 
Total Cost 
$7,076,000 
$5,239;500 
The Secretary of State's budget includes sufficient funds to accommodate one ballot of average length for the general 
election in November. If the number or size of the referendum questions requires production and delivery ofa second 
ballot, an additional appropriation of $107,250 may be required.