An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding Dealers in Secondhand Precious Metals
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1072
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: SAVIELLO, BLACK
Amends: 30-A MRSA §3972

Legislative Document
No. 1072
S.P. 354
In Senate, March 16, 2017
An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding Dealers in Secondhand 
Precious Metals
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator SAVIELLO of Franklin.
Cosponsored by Representative: BLACK of Wilton.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  30-A MRSA §3972, sub-§1, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 398, §1, is 
amended to read: 
B.  "Precious metals" means any item composed in whole or in part of gold, 
palladium, platinum or silver, but does not include dental gold, unrefined metal ore, 
an electronic product, any part of a mechanical system on a motor vehicle or gold or 
silver coins or bullion. 
Sec. 2.  30-A MRSA §3972, sub-§2, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 398, §1, is 
amended to read: 
C.  A digital photograph of each the item of precious metals that is the subject of the 
transaction, as well as a complete description of the item purchased or acquired from 
the seller, including the weight of the item and any identification numbers, names, 
initials, serial numbers or identifying marks on the item.  If there is more than one 
item, one digital photograph of all the items is sufficient to meet the requirements of 
this paragraph; and 
Sec. 3.  30-A MRSA §3972, sub-§2, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 398, §1, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 4.  30-A MRSA §3972, sub-§§5 and 6, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 398, §1, 
are amended to read: 
5.  Holding period.  A dealer may not sell or alter any precious metals until the 
precious metals have remained in the dealer's possession for 15 5 business days after the 
date of acquisition by the dealer, except that a dealer who determines that the precious 
metals are not listed in an electronic database designed to catalog stolen property may sell 
or alter the precious metals 5 business days after the date of acquisition. 
6.  Municipal permit.  A person may not act as a dealer without a permit issued by 
the registering as a dealer in secondhand precious metals with the municipal officers of 
the municipality in which the person intends to maintain a permanent place or places of 
business.  A dealer shall provide the address of the permanent place of business at which 
the dealer will do business to the municipality and shall notify the municipality if the 
location changes.  The municipal officers may require other reasonable information as to 
the identity of the persons managing, supervising or conducting the business as necessary 
in order to fulfill the purposes of this section.  The municipal officers may not issue a 
permit to act as a dealer to a person if they find that issuance of the permit would be 
detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare. Without a municipal permit, a person 
may not engage in the business of dealing in secondhand precious metals. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the laws regarding dealers in secondhand precious metals by: 
1.  Including palladium and platinum as precious metals subject to regulation; 
2.  Allowing a dealer to take one digital photograph of all the items in a transaction, 
instead of one digital photograph for each item; 
3.  Eliminating certain types of information that must be recorded by a dealer about 
each item; 
4.  Reducing from 15 days to 5 business days the amount of time a dealer must wait 
before selling or altering an item of precious metals received by the dealer; 
5.  Removing a reference to an electronic database designed to catalog stolen 
property; and 
6.  Requiring a dealer to register as a precious metals dealer with the municipality in 
which the dealer will conduct business, instead of requiring the dealer to obtain a permit 
issued by the municipality.