An Act To Address the Economic Impact of Federal Closures on Maine's Fixed Gear Fishing Industry
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1898
Committee Amendment CA_A_H828 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"/)-,' to H.P. 1405, L.D. 1898, "An Act To Address 
the Economic Impact of Federal Closures on Maine's Fixed Gear Fishing Industry" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. Fund established. The Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Impact 
Fund, referred to in this Act as "the fund," is established as a nonlapsing fund within the 
Department of Marine Resources to mitigate negative financial impacts experienced by 
individuals and businesses involved in the State's fixed gear fishing industry resulting from 
the amendment of 50 Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 229.2, 229.32 and 697.21 
published in 86 Federal Register, 52011 to 52024 (2021). 
Sec. 2. Report. The Department of Marine Resources shall report on the status of 
the fund by January 15, 2023 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over marine resources matters. The report must include the amount of funds 
distributed to each recipient, the number of recipients and the results achieved or negative 
impact mitigated. The joint standing committee may report out a bill based on the report to 
the 131st Legislature in 2023. 
Sec. 3. Transfer. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on or before 
June 30, 2022, the State Controller shall transfer $30,000,000 from the unappropriated 
surplus of the General Fund to the Department of Marine Resources, Atlantic Large Whale 
Take Reduction Plan Impact Fund program, Other Special Revenue Funds account. 
Sec. 4. Eligibility criteria. To be eligible to receive money from the fund, an 
individual must: 
1. Be a resident of the State; 
2. Have held a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license pursuant to 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 6421 in each of the past 3 calendar years; and 
3. Have purchased at least 400 lobster trap tags during 2 of the past 3 calendar years. 
Page l - 130LR2313(02) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "ff' to H.P. 1405, L.D. 1898 
Sec. 5. Fund distribution. The Department of Marine Resources shall distribute 
money from the fund to eligible individuals as follows: 
I. An eligible individual with an annual landed value of lobster from $10,000 to 
$25,000 during 2 of the past 3 calendar years is entitled to receive the base amount as 
determined by the department; 
2. An eligible individual with an annual landed value of lobster exceeding $25,000 
during 2 of the past 3 calendar years is entitled to receive 2 times the base amount as 
determined by the department; and 
3. An eligible individual with an annual landed value of lobster exceeding $25,000 
during 2 of the past 3 calendar years who holds both a state and federal lobster permit at 
the time of distribution is eligible to receive 3 times the base amount as determined by the 
department. 
An eligible individual is entitled to only one distribution. 
Sec. 6. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
MARINE RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Impact Fund N944 
Initiative: Provides one-time allocations for grants to individuals and businesses involved 
in the State's fixed gear fishing industry to mitigate negative financial impacts experienced 
as a result of the United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration regulations resulting from the Atlantic Large Whale Take 
Reduction Plan. No more than $210,000 of the funds may be used by the Department of 
Marine Resources for administrative costs. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
2021-22 
$29,999,500 
$29,999,500 
2022-23 
$500 
$500 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which replaces the bill, moves the Atlantic Large Whale Take 
Reduction Plan Impact Fund into unallocated law to reflect the one-time allocation of 
money from the fund and adds eligibility criteria for receipt of funds and instructions on 
distribution of funds by the Department of Marine Resources. It also provides a minimum 
amount of funding to cover the department's administrative costs. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/18/22 ;fb)?ae 
LD 1898 
LR 2313(02) 
An Act To Address the Economic Impact of Federal Closures on Maine's Fixed Gear Fishing Industry 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'H(f!--i 2$) 
Committee: Marine Resources 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Transfers 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2021-22 
$30,000,000 
$29,999,500 
($30,000,000) 
$30,000,000 
FY 2022-23 
$0 
$500 
$0 
$0 
Projections 
FY 2023-24 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Projections 
FY2024-25 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
This bill establishes the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Impact Fund within the Department of Marine 
Resources (DMR) to mitigate negative financial impacts experienced by individuals and businesses involved in the 
State's fixed-gear fishing industry. The bill transfers $30,000,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 from the unappropriated 
surplus of the General Fund to the fund. The bill includes accompanying allocations of $29,999,500 in fiscal year 
2021-22 and $500 in fiscal year 2022-23 to allow disbursement of the funds to individuals and businesses who meet 
the eligibility criteria. 
LR23 l 3(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1