An Act To Provide Veterans and Gold Star Families Free Admission to the Maine State Museum
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1233
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: SHEATS, CARSON, LONGSTAFF, MADIGAN, PICCHIOTTI, STROM, CARPENTER
Amends: 27 MRSA §83, 37-B MRSA §8-A

Legislative Document
No. 1233
H.P. 856
House of Representatives, March 30, 2017
An Act To Provide Veterans and Gold Star Families Free Admission 
to the Maine State Museum
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SHEATS of Auburn.
Cosponsored by Senator CARSON of Cumberland and
Representatives: CASÁS of Rockport, LONGSTAFF of Waterville, MADIGAN of Rumford, 
PICCHIOTTI of Fairfield, STROM of Pittsfield, Senator: CARPENTER of Aroostook.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  27 MRSA §83, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2013, c. 595, Pt. M, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
5.  Establish fees.  To establish fees for admission to the Maine State Museum and 
miscellaneous services.  All revenues derived from these fees must be credited as 
undedicated revenue to the General Fund through June 30, 2014.  Beginning July 1, 2014, 
all revenues derived from these fees must be credited as dedicated revenue to the Maine 
State Museum - Operating Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account to be used to 
support the operations of the Maine State Museum.  Notwithstanding this subsection, the 
commission shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of 
Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management for the issuance of a free admission pass 
to the Maine State Museum to each person who is determined by the Department of 
Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management to meet the criteria established in Title 
37-B, section 8-A; and 
Sec. 2.  37-B MRSA §8-A is enacted to read: 
§8-A.  Issuance of free admission pass to Maine State Museum to veterans and gold 
star families 
The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, in accordance 
with a memorandum of agreement entered into with the Maine State Museum 
Commission under Title 27, section 83, subsection 5 and this section, shall issue a free 
admission pass to the Maine State Museum to eligible persons pursuant to subsection 1. 
1.  Eligibility.  The department shall determine a person's eligibility for a pass under 
this section by establishing that the following criteria are met: 
A.  If the person is a veteran: 
(1)  The person is a resident of this State; and 
(2)  The person received an honorable discharge or general discharge under 
honorable conditions; or 
B.  If the person is a member of a gold star family: 
(1)  The person is a resident of this State; and 
(2)  The person is eligible to possess: 
(a)  A gold star lapel button pursuant to 10 United States Code, Section 1126 
or 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 578.63; or 
(b)  A lapel button for next of kin of deceased personnel pursuant to 32 Code 
of Federal Regulations, Section 578.63. 
2.  Responsibilities of commissioner.  The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management shall identify a point of contact within the department to issue 
free admission passes in accordance with this section and the memorandum of agreement 
entered into with the Maine State Museum Commission pursuant to Title 27, section 83, 
subsection 5.  The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management 
shall periodically report to the Maine State Museum Commission a list of the names and 
addresses of all persons receiving passes to the Maine State Museum and the beginning 
dates for those passes.  A pass issued under this section does not expire and is valid for 
the lifetime of the holder. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides for free admission to the Maine State Museum for veterans and 
persons who are eligible to possess gold star lapel buttons or lapel buttons for next of kin 
of deceased military personnel.