An Act To Include Milliliter and Smaller Liquor Bottles in the Laws Governing Returnable Containers
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0056
Committee Amendment CA_A_H107 (House)
Amends: 38 MRSA §3103

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to H.P. 43, L.D. 56, Bill, "An Act To Include 
Milliliter and Smaller Liquor Bottles in the Laws Governing Returnable Containers" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §3103, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 166, §14, is 
amended to read: 
4. Wine and spirits containers. For wine and spirits containers of 50 milliliters or 
less, the refund value may not be more than 5¢. For wine and spirits containers of greater 
than 50 milliliters, the refund value may not be less than 15¢. 
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Alcoholic Beverages - General Operation 0015 
Initiative: Provides an allocation for additional contract costs for the spirits administration 
contract to include redemption of 50 milliliter bottles, which is not included in the current 
contract. 
STATE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE FUND 
All Other 
STATE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE FUND TOTAL 
2017-18 
$580,000 
$580,000 
Sec. 3. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2019.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2018-19 
$862,763 
$862,763 
~'?· 
~· 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 43, L.D. 56 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the bill. 
The amendment provides that, effective Januaty 1, 2019, 50 milliliter and smaller wine or 
spirits bottles are included in the laws governing returnable containers and are subject to a 
refund value of not more than 5¢. The amendment also adds an appropriations and 
allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 04/28/17 ::Wac. 
LD56 
LR95(02) 
An Act To Include 50 Milliliter and Smaller Liquor Bottles in the Laws Governing Returnable 
Containers 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '~' ( }-I-J '{) 7) 
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY2017-18 
FY 2018-19 
Projections 
FY 2019-20 
Projections 
FY2020-21 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
State Alcoholic Beverage Fund 
$580,000 
$862,763 
$1,200,000 
$1,200,000 
Revenue 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
$0 
$1,280 
$1,280 
$1,280 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill would include 50 milliliter and smaller wine or spirits bottles in the state bottle redemption program starting 
January 1, 2019. Because the bottle redemption program is included in the spirits administration contract with Pine State 
Trading Company, this change would require the contract be renegotiated. The spirits contract vendor would be required 
to affix redemption stickers to existing inventory in stock and all future inventory of product if producers choose not to 
modify their product labels to include redemption information. New packaging equipment would require an 8 to 12 
month lead time for the vendor to order, have manufactured and accept delivery. The equipment purchase will require a 
one time allocation of $580,000 in fiscal year 2017-18. The bill includes an allocation $862,763 in fiscal year 2018-19 
for additional payments to redemption centers, recycling centers, Pine State's labor and equipment needed to perf01m the 
new labeling requirements and a one-time allowance for fraudulently or mistakenly redeemed containers. It is anticipated 
that the Alcoholic Beverages Fund will have sufficient revenue to fund the additional allocation for the foreseeable 
future. However, the additional expenditures from the fund may put required future payments to the Maine Municipal 
Bond Bank at risk. 
The Department of Environmental Protection estimates that an additional 320 products would be subject to the rules 
clarifying the responsibilities of manufacturers, dealers, distributors, initiators of deposit, contracted agents and 
redemption centers under the Returnable Beverage Container Law. Each beverage container and label must be registered 
with the department prior to being offered for sale in the State. Registration is $4 per label, which would increase Other 
Special Revenue Funds revenue by $1,280 annually beginning in fiscal year 2018-19. 
LR0095(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1