An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Promote Land Conservation, Working Waterfronts, Water Access and Outdoor Recreation”
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0911
Committee Amendment CA_A_S459 (Senate)
Amends: 5 MRSA §6201, 5 MRSA §6203, 5 MRSA §6207

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to S.P. 265, L.D. 911, Bill, “An Act To 
Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Promote Land Conservation, Working 
Waterfronts, Water Access and Outdoor Recreation”
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following:
'PART A
Sec. A-1.  Authorization of bonds.  The Treasurer of State is authorized, under 
the direction of the Governor, to issue bonds in the name and on behalf of the State in an 
amount not exceeding $60,000,000 for the purposes described in section 6 of this Part.  
The bonds are a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State.  The bonds may not run for 
a period longer than 10 years from the date of the original issue of the bonds.
Sec. A-2.  Records of bonds issued; Treasurer of State. The Treasurer of 
State shall ensure that an account of each bond is kept showing the number of the bond, 
the name of the successful bidder to whom sold, the amount received for the bond, the 
date of sale and the date when payable.
Sec. A-3.  Sale; how negotiated; proceeds appropriated.  The Treasurer of 
State may negotiate the sale of the bonds by direction of the Governor, but no bond may 
be loaned, pledged or hypothecated on behalf of the State.  The proceeds of the sale of the 
bonds, which must be held by the Treasurer of State and paid by the Treasurer of State 
upon warrants drawn by the State Controller, are appropriated solely for the purposes set 
forth in this Part.  Any unencumbered balances remaining at the completion of the project 
in this Part lapse to the Office of the Treasurer of State to be used for the retirement of 
general obligation bonds.
Sec. A-4.  Interest and debt retirement.  The Treasurer of State shall pay 
interest due or accruing on any bonds issued under this Part and all sums coming due for 
payment of bonds at maturity.
Date: 
(Filing No. S-          )
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to S.P. 265, L.D. 911
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Sec. A-5.  Disbursement of bond proceeds.    The proceeds of the bonds must 
be expended as set out in this Part under the direction and supervision of the Department 
of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
1. The proceeds of the bonds for the Land for Maine's Future Board as set out in 
section 6 must be expended by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
for acquisition of land and interest in land for conservation, water access, outdoor 
recreation, wildlife or fish habitat, working farmland preservation in accordance with the 
provisions for such acquisitions under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 353 
and working waterfront preservation in accordance with the terms of Public Law 2005, 
chapter 462, Part B, section 6, including all costs associated with such acquisitions, 
except that use of the proceeds of these bonds is subject to the following conditions and 
requirements.
A. Hunting, fishing, trapping and public access may not be prohibited on land 
acquired with bond proceeds, except to the extent of applicable state, local or federal 
laws, rules and regulations and except for working waterfront projects and working 
farmland preservation projects.
B. Payment from bond proceeds for acquisitions of land or interest in land for 
community conservation projects as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, 
section 6201, subsection 1-B may be made directly to cooperating entities as defined 
in Title 5, section 6201, subsection 2 for acquisition of land and interest in land by 
cooperating entities, subject to terms and conditions enforceable by the State to 
ensure its use for the purposes of this Part.
C. The bond funds expended for conservation, recreation, working waterfronts, 
working farmland, community conservation projects and water access must be 
matched with at least $40,000,000 in public and private contributions. Seventy 
percent of that amount must be in the form of cash or other tangible assets, including 
the value of land and real property interest acquired by or contributed to cooperating 
entities, as defined in Title 5, section 6201, subsection 2, when property interests 
have a direct relationship to the property proposed for protection, as determined by 
the Land for Maine's Future Board. The remaining 30% may be matching 
contributions and may include the value of project-related, in-kind contributions of 
goods and services to and by cooperating entities.
D. Because of changing climate conditions, projects that address climate change, 
resiliency and mitigation strategies that benefit natural ecosystems, wildlife and 
working waterfronts and farmland to adapt must be given special consideration by the 
Land for Maine's Future Board.
E. To the extent the purposes are consistent with the disbursement provisions in this 
Part, 100% of the bond proceeds may be considered as state match for any federal 
funding to be made available to the State.
2. Because portions of the State have deer populations that are struggling and deer 
wintering habitat protection is vital to the survival and enhancement of these populations, 
projects that conserve and protect deer wintering areas are considered to have special 
value and must receive preferential consideration during scoring of new applications for 
support under Title 5, chapter 353. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall take a proactive 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to S.P. 265, L.D. 911
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
approach to pursuing land conservation projects that include conservation of priority deer 
wintering areas and not working waterfront preservation projects or working farmland 
preservation projects. Priority deer wintering areas are of at least 500 acres or contiguous 
with existing conservation land so that the combined acreage constitutes at least 500 
acres, have been historically used by deer at some point since 1950 and are capable of 
providing shelter for deer on the effective date of this Part or within 20 years. The 
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall include in conservation negotiations 
under this section provisions for the appropriate management of priority deer wintering 
areas. Land and interest in land purchased by the State that contains priority deer 
wintering areas must be managed using protocol provided by the Department of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife.
3. Of the bond proceeds allocated to the Land for Maine's Future Board as set out in 
section 6, at least 5% must be made available to acquire public access to water in 
accordance with Title 5, section 6203-A. Funds under this subsection not spent within a 
10-year period may be allocated at the discretion of the Land for Maine's Future Board.
4. Of the bond proceeds allocated to the Land for Maine's Future Board as set out in 
section 6, at least 10% must be made available to protect farmland in accordance with 
Title 5, section 6207. Funds under this subsection not spent within a 10-year period may 
be allocated at the discretion of the Land for Maine's Future Board.
5. Of the bond proceeds allocated to the Land for Maine's Future Board as set out in 
section 6, at least 10% must be made available to preserve working waterfronts in 
accordance with Public Law 2005, chapter 462, Part B, section 6. Funds under this 
subsection not spent within a 10-year period may be allocated at the discretion of the 
Land for Maine's Future Board.
Sec. A-6.  Disbursement of bond proceeds from General Fund bond issue.  
The proceeds of the sale of the bonds authorized under this Part must be expended as 
designated in the following schedule.
Provides funds in order to leverage $40,000,000 in matching contributions from 
public and private sources to be used for the acquisition of land and interest in land 
for conservation; water access; wildlife or fish habitat including deer wintering areas; 
outdoor recreation including hunting and fishing; and working farmland preservation 
and working waterfront preservation.  No more than $10,000,000 may be issued in 
the first year by the Land for Maine's Future Board and no more than $10,000,000 
may be issued by the Land for Maine's Future Board in each of the 3 subsequent 
years, except that any unused balance may be added to the specified amount in 
subsequent years.
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION 
AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
Land for Maine's Future Board
Total
$40,000,000
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to S.P. 265, L.D. 911
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Provides funds to make necessary capital improvements in the State's parks and 
historic sites.  No more than $4,000,000 may be issued in the first year by the Bureau 
of Parks and Lands and no more than $4,000,000 may be issued by the Bureau of 
Parks and Lands in each of the 4 subsequent years, except that any unused balance 
may be added to the specified amount in subsequent years.
Sec. A-7.  Contingent upon ratification of bond issue.  Sections 1 to 6 do not 
become effective unless the people of the State ratify the issuance of the bonds as set 
forth in this Part.
Sec. A-8.  Appropriation balances at year-end.  At the end of each fiscal year, 
all unencumbered appropriation balances representing state money carry forward.  Bond 
proceeds that have not been expended within 10 years after the date of the sale of the 
bonds lapse to the Office of the Treasurer of State to be used for the retirement of general 
obligation bonds.
Sec. A-9.  Bonds authorized but not issued.  Any bonds authorized but not 
issued within 5 years of ratification of this Part are deauthorized and may not be issued, 
except that the Legislature may, within 2 years after the expiration of that 5-year period, 
extend the period for issuing any remaining unissued bonds for an additional amount of 
time not to exceed 5 years.
Sec. A-10.  Referendum for ratification; submission at election; form of 
question; effective date.  This Part must be submitted to the legal voters of the State at 
a statewide election held in the month of November following passage of this Act.  The 
municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns 
and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, 
to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Part by voting on the following question:
"Do you favor a $60,000,000 bond issue to invest in state parks and 
historic sites, land conservation, water access, wildlife habitat, outdoor 
recreation opportunities including hunting and fishing, farmlands and 
working waterfronts to be matched by at least $40,000,000 in private and 
public contributions?"
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question 
and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square 
below the word "Yes" or "No."  The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and 
declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of 
State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature.  The Governor shall 
review the returns.  If a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of this Part, the 
Governor shall proclaim the result without delay and this Part becomes effective 30 days 
after the date of the proclamation.
Bureau of Parks and Lands
Total
$20,000,000
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to S.P. 265, L.D. 911
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all 
ballots, returns and copies of this Part necessary to carry out the purposes of this 
referendum.
PART B
Sec. B-1.  5 MRSA §6201, sub-§1-B is enacted to read:
1-B.  Community conservation project.  "Community conservation project" means 
a conservation project of local or regional significance that promotes one or more of the 
following: public outdoor recreational access to lands and waters, including for 
underserved populations; public health; connections between conservation lands and 
population centers; local or regional agriculture; conservation of cultural and historical 
resources on undeveloped lands; protection of lakes, rivers or streams; conservation of 
fish or wildlife habitat; protection of public drinking water supplies; conservation of 
community forests; local economic development; opportunities for environmental 
learning; nonmotorized transportation options; or other priorities as determined by the 
board.
Sec. B-2.  5 MRSA §6201, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 506, §§1 and 4, is 
amended to read:
2.  Cooperating entities. "Cooperating entities" means those private nonprofit 
organizations, municipal conservation commissions, local governments, federal agencies 
or other bodies designated by the Land for Maine's Future Board, pursuant to section 
6203, as able to assist the State in the acquisition or management of conservation lands of 
statewide significance or for community conservation projects.
Sec. B-3.  5 MRSA §6203, sub-§3,¶A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 769, §1, is 
further amended to read:
A.  Acquire property or an interest in property that is determined by the board to be 
of state statewide significance or for a community conservation project under the 
guidelines of this chapter;
Sec. B-4.  5 MRSA §6207, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 381, §1, is further 
amended to read:
3.  Priorities.  Whenever possible, the Land for Maine's Future Fund and the Public 
Access to Maine Waters Fund must be used for land acquisition projects when matching 
funds are available from cooperating entities, as long as the proposed acquisition meets 
all other criteria set forth in this chapter.  For acquisitions funded by the Land for Maine's 
Future Fund, the board shall give priority to projects that conserve lands with multiple 
outstanding resource or recreation values or a single exceptional value,; conserve and 
protect deer wintering areas,; help the State's natural ecosystems, wildlife and natural 
resources-based economies adapt to a changing climate; provide geographic 
representation; and build upon or connect existing holdings.
When acquiring land or interest in land, the board shall examine public vehicular access 
rights to the land and, whenever possible and appropriate, acquire guaranteed public 
vehicular access as part of the acquisition.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to S.P. 265, L.D. 911
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Sec. B-5.  Contingent effective date.  This Part takes effect only if the General 
Fund bond issue proposed in Part A is approved by the voters of this State.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill.  It does the following:
1.  Part A provides a bond issue, in the amount of $60,000,000, that will be used to 
provide funds for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of 
Parks and Lands and the Land for Maine's Future Board; and
2.  Part B allows proceeds of the Land for Maine's Future Fund to be spent on 
property that is determined by the Land for Maine's Future Board to be for a community 
conservation project.  It defines "community conservation project" and amends the 
definition of "cooperating entities." It also sets helping the State's natural ecosystems, 
wildlife and natural resources-based economies adapt to a changing climate as a priority 
of the board in making land acquisitions.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Approved: 03/12/20
LD 911
LR 916(02)
Bond Issues
Term (years)
Principal
Rate (%)
Interest
Total Cost
General Fund - Non-Taxable
$60,000,000
3.75%
$12,375,000
$72,375,000
Referendum Costs
Month/Year
Election Type
Question
Length
Nov-20
General
Bond Issue
Standard
The Secretary of State's budget includes sufficient funds to accommodate one ballot of average length for the general 
election in November.  If the number or size of the referendum questions requires production and delivery of a second 
ballot, an additional appropriation of $266,000 may be required.
Current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Note
An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Promote Land Conservation, Working 
Waterfronts, Water Access and Outdoor Recreation
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
LR0916(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1