An Act to Provide Funding for Drought Relief and Other Programs Benefiting Maine Farmers
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0315
Committee Amendment CA_A_S27 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " /J" to S.P. 136, L.D. 315, "An Act to Provide 
Funding for Drought Relief and Other Programs Benefiting Maine Farmers" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, climate change is making the availability of water more unpredictable for 
farmers, and it has been well documented that extreme weather patterns will continue; and 
Whereas, of the State's 4 most recent droughts, 3 of them have occurred in 2020, 
2021 and 2022, and the State's farmers face a very uncertain future when it comes to 
sufficient water for crops; and 
Whereas, this legislation makes necessary changes to immediately support farmers to 
move forward to develop sustainable water sources and invest in irrigation to mitigate risk 
of a changing climate and to help secure the State's food supply; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 
Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF 
Bureau of Agriculture 0393 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funding for one Public Service Coordinator I position and 
associated All Other costs. 
Page I - 131LR2064(02) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A- "to S.P. 136, L.D. 31 ( j-1,, ~ 
GENERAL FUND 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
Maine Land Use Planning Commission Z236 
2023-24 
1.000 
$80,125 
$2,625 
$82,750 
2024-25 
1.000 
$112,618 
$3,500 
$116,118 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funding for one Environmental Specialist II position and 
associated All Other costs. 
GENERAL FUND 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
Maine Land Use Planning Commission Z236 
2023-24 
1.000 
$62,894 
$2,625 
$65,519 
2024-25 
1.000 
$88,400 
$3,500 
$91,900 
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for contracted services to review and overhaul the 
current water withdrawal permitting process. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
Office of the Commissioner 0401 
2023-24 
$35,000 
$35,000 
2024-25 
$0 
$0 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funding for information technology administration costs. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND 
FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
2023-24 
$5,816 
$5,816 
2023-24 
$189,085 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
$189,085 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF 
8 
Administration - Environmental Protection 0251 
2024-25 
$7,754 
$7,754 
2024-25 
$215,772 
$215,772 
9 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funding for information technology administration costs. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
2023-24 
$2,825 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2024-25 
$2,825 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A " to S.P. 136, L.D. 315 ( S· ?.., 7) 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
Water Quality 0248 
$2,825 
$2,825 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funding for one Environmental Specialist III position and 
associated All Other costs. 
GENERAL FUND 
2023-24 
2024-25 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
1.000 
1.000 
Personal Services 
All Other 
$66,525 
$93,646 
$1,363 
$1,363 
GENERAL FUND TOT AL 
$67,888 
$95,009 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
2023-24 
2024-25 
GENERAL FUND 
$70,713 
$97,834 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL -ALL FUNDS 
$70,713 
$97,834 
SECTION TOTALS 
2023-24 
2024-25 
GENERAL FUND 
$259,798 
$313,606 
SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
$259,798 
$313,606 
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
7 
takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft. 
The amendment 
implements some of the recommendations of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation 
and Forestry January 2023 report, "Findings and Recommendations for Streamlining 
Permitting New Sources of Water for Irrigation in Maine." The amendment adds an 
emergency preamble and emergency clause to the bill. 
The amendment provides a one-time appropriation of $35,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 
in order for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Maine Land Use 
8 
Planning Commission to hire a consultant to review and overhaul the current applications 
9 
to improve water withdrawal permitting. 
The amendment establishes and provides ongoing funding for 3 full-time, permanent 
positions: one within the Maine Land Use Planning Commission; one within the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 136, L.D. 315 ( ':>-l,'1) 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Agriculture, Food and 
Rural Resources' division of agricultural resource development; and one within the 
Department of Environmental Protection's Water Withdrawal Program. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/31 /23 frae 
LD315 
LR 2064(02) 
An Act to Provide Funding for Drought Relief and Other Programs Benefiting Maine Farmers 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '~''{_5--i7) 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2023-24 
FY 2024-25 
$259,798 
$313,606 
$259,798 
$313,606 
Projections 
FY 2025-26 
$325,262 
$325,262 
Projections 
FY 2026-27 
$335,162 
$335,162 
This bill includes ongoing General Fund appropriations to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
(AFC) of $154,085 in fiscal year 2023-24 and $215,772 in fiscal year 2024-25 for one Public Service Coordinator I 
position, one Environmental Specialist II position and associated costs. It includes a one-time General Fund 
appropriation of $35,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 to ACF for contracted services to review and overhaul the 
department's water withdrawal permitting process. The bill also includes ongoing General Fund appropriations to the 
Department of Environmental Protection of $70,713 in fiscal year 2023-24 and $97,834 in fiscal year 2024-25 for one 
Environmental Specialist III position and associated costs.