An Act To Ensure Safe Drinking Water for Families in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0454
Committee Amendment CA_A_H270 (House)
Amends: 32 MRSA §4700-H

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "ft" to H.P. 321, L.D. 454, Bill, "An Act To 
Ensure Safe Drinking Water for Families in Maine" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1. 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §2601-A in the 2nd to last line (page 1, line 25 in L.D.) 
by inserting after the following: "contaminants" the following: 'or properties' 
Amend the bill in section 3 in subsection 1 in the 2nd line (page 1, line 30 in L.D.) by 
inserting after the following: "contaminants" the following: 'or properties' 
Amend the bill in section 4 in subchapter 8 by striking out all of §2660-T (page 2, 
lines 7 to 16 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'§2660-T. Uniform testing recommendation; specified contaminants and properties 
The department shall develop a uniform recommendation for the testing for specific 
contaminants or properties for which residential private drinking water wells should 
periodically be tested. 
The uniform recommendation must specify contaminants or 
properties that should be included in the periodic testing, including but not limited to 
arsenic, bacteria, nitrates, nitrites. chloride, hardness, copper, iron, pH, sodium. lead, 
uranium, manganese, fluoride and radon, unless the department determines that testing 
for a contaminant or property listed in this section is not necessary based on previous test 
results or credible scientific evidence. The department or an entity that provides testing 
of or provides education or advertisements related to testing of a residential private 
drinking water well shall include the uniform recommendation developed by the 
department pursuant to this section in its written materials related to testing of a 
residential private drinking water well.' 
Amend the bill in section 4 in subchapter 8 in §2660-U in the first paragraph in the 
4th line (page 2, line 21 in L.D.) by striking out the following: 
112660-X" and inserting the 
following: '2660-W' 
Amend the bill in section 4 in subchapter 8 by striking out all of §§2660-V and 2660-
W (page 2, lines 29 to 39 and page 3, lines 1 to 3 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'H" to H.P. 321, L.D. 454 
'&2660-V. Educational outreach 
Within available resources, the department shall revise and update its education and 
outreach materials as needed and conduct educational outreach regarding residential 
private drinking water wells, including the need to conduct testing for contaminants or 
properties specified pursuant to section 2660-T through a laboratory certified pursuant to 
section 567, the potential health effects of those contaminants or properties and options 
for water treatment to reduce the level of those contaminants or properties.' 
Amend the bill in section 4 in subchapter 8 in §2660-X in subsection 3 in the first line 
(page 3, line 12 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "Allocations from the fund must be 
made" and inserting the following: 'Expenditures from the fund may be made only' 
Amend the bill in section 4 in subchapter 8 in §2660-X in subsection 3 in paragraph 
A in the last line (page 3, line 14 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "contaminants" 
the following: 'or properties' 
Amend the bill in section 4 in subchapter 8 in §2660-X in subsection 3 in paragraph 
C in the first line (page 3, line 16 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "subchapter" 
the following: 'and in waiving fees under section 2602-A, subsection 2' 
Amend the bill in section 4 in subchapter 8 in §2660-X by striking out all of 
subsection 4 (page 3, lines 17 to 22 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'4. Expenditures. The division of environmental health within the department shall 
expend funds with the review and advice of an advisory committee established by the 
department. 
The advisory committee must include representatives from at least 2 
laboratories certified pursuant to section 567. Preference in expending funds must be 
given to community-based programs that reach high-risk or underserved populations. 
The department may contract for professional services to carry out the purposes of this 
section.' 
Amend the bill in section 4 in subchapter 8 in §2660-Y in the first paragraph in the 
2nd to last line (page 3, line 26 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "contaminants" 
the following: 'or properties' 
Amend the bill in section 4 in subchapter 8 by renumbering the sections to read 
consecutively. 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 5 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §4700-H, sub-§8 is enacted to read: 
8. 
Educational materials. 
The commission shall adopt rules to require the 
distribution of educational materials to a landowner when a residential private drinking 
water well is drilled or deepened to inform the landowner about the importance of testing 
for arsenic and other contaminants or properties specified in Title 22, section 2660-T. 
Rules adopted by the commission pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules 
as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 6 the following: 
'Sec. 7. Appropriations and allocations. 
The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT'A" to H.P. 321, L.D. 454 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS) 
Private Well Safe Drinking Water Fund N207 
Initiative: Provides allocations for additional lab supplies for water tests. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
Private Well Safe Drinking Water Fund N207 
2017-18 
$12,205 
$12,205 
2018-19 
$16,273 
$16,273 
Initiative: Provides allocations to revise and update education and outreach materials and 
to conduct educational outreach on the importance of testing for arsenic and other 
contaminants. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS) 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
2017-18 
$27,425 
$27,425 
2017-18 
$39,630 
$39,630 
2018-19 
$36,567 
$36,567 
2018-19 
$52,840 
$52,840 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority report of the committee and makes the following 
changes to the bill. 
It removes the requirement for private laboratories that test 
residential private drinking water wells to submit the test results to the Department of 
Health and Human Services. It adds additional enumerated contaminants or properties to 
be included in the uniform testing recommendation. It requires the department to update 
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its education and outreach materials as needed and to recommend water testing through a 
state-certified laboratory. 
The amendment removes the requirement for landlords to 
conduct water tests. It provides that the allocations from the Private Well Safe Drinking 
Water Fund may be used to defray costs resulting from the department's waiver of fees 
for water supply testing upon a showing of indigency. It requires that the advisory 
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committee for the Private Well Safe Drinking Water Fund include representatives from at 
least 2 state-certified laboratories. It requires that the Maine Water Well Commission 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 321, L.D. 454 
distribute educational materials to landowners when a residential private drinking water 
well is drilled or deepened. 
This amendment also provides funding to the Department of Health and Human 
Services for additional water testing and other duties of the department related to the 
requirements of the bill. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/13/17 :mrac:.. 
LD454 
LR 1700(02) 
An Act To Ensure Safe Drinking Water for Families in Maine 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'fr c 
ti-J l D) 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Revenue 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2017-18 
FY 2018-19 
$39,630 
$52,840 
$39,630 
$52,840 
Projections 
FY2019-20 
$52,840 
$52,840 
Projections 
FY 2020-21 
$52,840 
$52,840 
The bill includes Other Special Revenue Funds allocations to the Department of Health and Human Services of 
$39,630 in fiscal year 2017-18 and $52,840 in fiscal year 2018-19 to provide additional water testing and update the 
education and outreach materials and to conduct educational outreach on the importance of testing for arsenic and 
other contaminents. The Other Special Revenue Funds revenue will be collected through a fee, not to exceed $10, 
from individuals or entities ordering a water test sample from a residential drinking water well. 
LR 1700{n?'\ - Fi~l'.l'l 1 Nl)te, - 'P"'a"' 1 l)f 1