An Act To Establish the Affordable Heating from Maine's Forests Fund
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1397
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: TIMBERLAKE, EDGECOMB, KINNEY
Amends: 12 MRSA §1849, 35-A MRSA §10124

Legislative Document 
No. 1397 
H.P. 949 
House of Representatives, May 12, 2015 
An Act To Establish the Affordable Heating from Maine's Forests 
Fund 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative TIMBERLAKE of Turner.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
Cosponsored by Senator EDGECOMB of Aroostook and 
Representative: KINNEY of Knox. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation establishes the Affordable Heating from Maine's Forests 
Fund, which receives scheduled transfers from the Public Reserved Lands Management 
Fund; and 
Whereas, the first of these transfers must occur before the expiration of the 90-day 
period in order to allow the fund to support measures to reduce rural residential heating 
costs before the next winter season; 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 and must, to the maximum extent practicable, prioritize rural and low-
income residences.  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 July 1, 2015, the Treasurer of State shall transfer, at a minimum, $1,000,000 
from the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund to the fund and to the maximum 
extent practicable shall also transfer any revenue accrued in the Public Reserved 
Lands Management Fund over the 2012 revenue amounts of the Public Reserved 
Lands Management Fund as determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry as long as the transfer of those additional funds does not 
undermine the mandated multiple stewardship obligations under Title 12, chapter 
220, subchapter 4. 
B.  On July 1, 2016, and on July 1st in each year thereafter, the Treasurer of State 
shall transfer from the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund to the fund to the 
maximum extent practicable any revenue accrued in the Public Reserved Lands 
Management Fund over the 2012 revenue amounts of the Public Reserved Lands 
Management Fund as determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation 
and Forestry as long as the transfer of those funds does not undermine the mandated 
multiple stewardship obligations under Title 12, chapter 220, subchapter 4 and as 
long as the funding needs of the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund are met. 
Activity undertaken pursuant to this subsection may not result in the loss of certification 
of public reserved lands by independent forestry certification systems. 
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 2015 a minimum of 
$1,000,000 must be transferred from the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund to the 
Affordable Heating from Maine's Forests Fund.  Subsequent transfers are based on 
revenue accrued over the 2012 revenue amounts of the Public Reserved Lands 
Management Fund, subject to some limitations. The Efficiency Maine Trust is required to 
use the funding for measures that reduce residential heating costs and must prioritize rural 
and low-income residences.