An Act To Protect Public Health through Subsurface Wastewater Disposal System Inspections
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0543
Committee Amendment CA_A_H37 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 400, L.D. 543, Bill, "An Act To 
Protect Public Health through Subsurface Wastewater Disposal System Inspections" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Facilitate the Protection of Public Health through Increased 
Subsurface Wastewater Inspections' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and insetting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services; report. Resolved: 
That, on or before January 15, 2020, th~ Department of Health and Human Services, in 
consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, shall submit a report to 
the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources that contains the 
following information: 
1. A description of the time frame for adoption of rules pursuant to the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 42, subsections 3 and 3-B regarding minimum 
standards for septic system inspections · and the qualifications and training required for 
certification as a septic system inspector by the Department of Health and Human 
Services and the time frame for implementation of a revised septic system inspector 
certification program consistent with those new rules following their adoption; 
2. If available, an estimate of the number of individuals currently perfo1ming septic 
system inspections in the State, including an estimate of the total number of such 
individuals who have been certified by. the Department of Health and Human Services 
under the current septic system inspector certification program, as well as an estimate of 
the number of septic system inspections that are performed in the State in any given 
calendar year; 
3. An assessment by the Department of Health and Human Services of the ability of 
the State's septic system inspection industry to meet an increased demand for septic 
system inspections if the Legislature were to amend the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
30-A, section 4216 to require a person purchasing any property on which a septic system 
is located to have the system inspected prior to purchase, subject to the same exceptions 
Page r-129LR0506(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. #, to H.P. 400, L.D. 543 
currently included in section 4216. The assessment must, if applicable, include specific 
proposals to address any identified issues with the industry's ability to meet such 
increased demand; and 
4. Recommendations regarding the need for increased resources or funding for the 
Department of Health and Human Services to address issues raised by the implementation 
by the department of a revised septic system inspector certification program described in 
subsection 1 or by the implementation by the Legislature of the proposal described in 
subsection 3, as well as any other recommendations relating to the department's 
administration of the laws and rules regarding septic system inspections and certification 
of septic system inspectors. 
After reviewing the report under this section, the committee may report out a bill 
related to the information contained in the report to the Second Regular Session of the 
I 29th Legislature. 1 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, changes the title of 
the bill and changes the bill into a resolve directing the Department of Health and Human 
Services, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, to submit to 
the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources on or before 
January 15, 2020 a report containing a variety of information regarding septic system 
inspections and the certification of septic system inspectors. After reviewing the report, 
the committee may report out a bill related to the information contained in the report to 
the Second Regular Session of the 129thLegislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQtrfR:ED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
.' .. · .. 
Approved: 03/13/19 feac 
LD543 
LR 506(02) 
An Act To Protect Public Health through Subsurface Wastewater Disposal System Inspections 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment I,.{ fl~ j V 
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs incurred by the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health and 
Human Services in the creation of a report containing a variety of infom1ation regarding septic system inspections 
and the certification of septic system inspectors are anticipated to minor and can be absorbed within existing 
budgeted resources. 
LR0506(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1