An Act To Protect Maine Lakes
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1744
Committee Amendment CA_B_H782 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "B" to H.P. 1250, L.D. 1744, Bill, "An Act To 
Protect Maine Lakes" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, Maine's lakes are a critical and essential component of Maine's natural 
environment, wildlife and human life; and 
Whereas, Maine's lakes generate in excess of $3,400,000,000 in revenue each year, 
provide employment for 52,000 people and underpin our increasingly important tourism 
economy; and 
Whereas, water quality in Maine's lakes, considered to have some of the highest 
water quality in the nation, has declined by as much as 20% since 1995 due to the 
introduction of phosphorus and other pollutants carried by eroded soils and storm water 
runoff from camp roads, driveways and lawns and from failing septic systems; and 
Whereas, in many communities waterfront properties generate 60% to 70% of the 
tax base and any decline in water quality will cause property values to drop by 15% to 
20% and will shift the tax burden to nonwaterfront homeowners; and 
Whereas, scientific studies demonstrate that programs such as the LakeSmart 
program, which is a voluntary education and reward program for lake front property 
owners who maintain their property in ways that protect lake water quality and property 
values, that keep phosphorus and other pollutants out of lakes are among the most cost-
effective ways to protect lakes; and 
Whereas, scientific analysis of the data gathered through the efforts of volunteers 
throughout the State who participate in the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program is 
critical to the understanding of the current water quality of our lakes; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT]" to H.P. 1250, L.D. 1744 
Whereas, the high-quality environmental training programs developed and offered 
by the Maine Joint Environmental Training Coordinating Committee are critical to 
ensuring that the best practices and techniques for water pollution control and water 
quality protection are implemented by environmental professionals throughout the State; 
and 
Whereas, this legislation must take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period 
in order to provide funding in fiscal year 2013-14 for the LakeSmart program, the Maine 
Joint Environmental Training Coordinating Committee and the management and analysis 
of data collected by the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program; 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 foHows: 
Sec. 1. Appropriations and aHocations. 
The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF 
Land and Water Quality 0248 
Initiative: Provides a one-time appropriation in fiscal year 2013-14 of $40,000 for the 
purpose of supporting the Maine Lakes Society in its implementation of the LakeSmart 
program, $20,000 for the purpose of managing and analyzing the data gathered by the 
Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program and $10,000 for the purpose of supporting 
the Maine Joint Environmental Training Coordinating Committee in its development and 
implementation of water pollution control, water quality protection and other 
environmental training programs. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
2013-14 
$70,000 
$70,000 
2014-15 
$0 
$0 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority report of the Joint Standing Committee on 
Environment and Natural Resources, replaces the bill and adds an emergency preamble 
and an emergency clause. It provides a one-time appropriation in fiscal year 2013-14 of 
$70,000 to the Department of Environmental Protection to provide $40,000 to the Maine 
Lakes Society in its implementation of the LakeSmart program, $20,000 for the purpose 
of managing and analyzing the data gathered by the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~otS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT J3 "to H.P. 1250, L.D. 1744 
Program and $10,000 to the Maine Joint Environmental Training Coordinating 
Committee in its development and implementation of water pollution control, water 
quality protection and other environmental training programs. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/26/14 ,;t;?ac:.. 
LD 1744 
LR 2438(03) 
An Act To Protect Maine Lakes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment:B C H -73::1 ) 
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2013-14 
FY 2014-15 
Projections 
FY 2015-16 
Projections 
FY 2016-17 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$70,000 
$70,000 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
This bill provides a one-time General Fund appropriation in fiscal year 2013-14 of $70,000 to support the Maine 
Lakes Society in implementing the LakeSmart program, analyzing data gathered by the Maine Volunteer Lake 
Monitoring Program and supporting the Maine Joint Environmental Training Coordinating Committee in its 
development of environmental training programs. 
LR2438(03) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I 
$0 
$0