An Act to Fund the Lake Restoration and Protection Fund
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0164
Committee Amendment CA_A_H41 (House)
Amends: 38 MRSA §480-N

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" ;9,, to H.P. I 05, L.D. 164, "An Act to Fund the Lake 
Restoration and Protection Fund" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act Regarding the Funding of Lake Water Quality Restoration and Protection 
Projects' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §480-N, as amended by PL 1989, c. 890, Pt. A, §40 and Pt. B 
§§79 and 80, is further amended to read: 
§480-N. Lake Water Quality Restoration and Protection Fund 
1. Fund purposes and administration. There is established a nonlapsing Lake Water 
Quality Restoration and Protection Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," from 
which the commissioner may pay up to 50% of the eligible costs incurred in a lake water 
quality restoration or protection project, except that eligible costs for projects addressing 
technical assistance, watershed surveys, watershed plan development, public education or 
research issues may be paid up to 100%. Eligible costs include all costs except those related 
to land acquisition, legal fees and debt service. All moHey The commissioner may use 
money credited to that the fund mt:1st be used by the eommissioner for only for the purposes 
described in subsections 3, 4 and 6 and for projects to improve or maintain the quality of 
lake waters in the State ood for no other purpose. The commissioner may authorize the 
State Controller to draw a warrant for such funds as may be necessary to pay the lawful 
expenses of the lake water quality restoration or protection project, up to the limits of the 
money duly authorized. Any balance remaining in the fund must continue without lapse 
from year to year and remain available only for the purpose purposes for which the fund is 
established and for HO other purpose. 
2. Maney Prohibited expenditures. Money in the Lake Restoration and Proteetion 
FHnd may not be used The commissioner may not use money in the fund to pay costs for 
projects in or on lakes for which public access is not provided. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
a_q'f, 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. /f.. to H.P. 105, L.D. 164 
3. Intensive staffing f)fogram Staffing support. The commissioner shall establish 
an intensive staffing program to provide adeq1:1ate staffing at both the state and regional 
le'rels. 
The commissioner shall provide technical information and g1:1idance and the 
regional agencies shall assist vi1ith the adoption of revised comprehensive plans, standards 
and local ordinances by local go,1emments may use money in the fund for state, regional 
or local staffing to support administration and implementation of activities authorized 
under this section. 
4. Public education program. The commissioner 5hal-l may use money in the fund 
to develop a coordinated public education program for school children involving extensive 
1:1se of the media. 
§. Researeh. The commissioner shall eneo1:1rage internal research foe1:1sed on the 
follmving statev,ride topics: 
A. Lake vulnerability, partic1:1larly as it relates to nonc1:1lt1:1ral feahlres of the '+Yatershed; 
B. 
The effectiveness and design of the best management practices to control 
phosphorous pollution; and 
C. }fow lake and vlatershed diagnostic tools. 
6. Research. The commissioner may use money in the fund to conduct internal or 
external assessments and research focused on lake water quality restoration or protection. 
Sec. 2. Transfers from General Fund unappropriated surplus. The State 
Controller shall transfer $1,000,000 on or before June 30, 2024 and $1,500,000 on or before 
June 30, 2025 from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund to the Department of 
Environmental Protection, Lake Water Quality Restoration and Protection Fund, Other 
Special Revenue Funds account to provide payments to help fund costs related to eligible 
projects in the State that improve or maintain the quality of lake waters in the State and for 
other authorized purposes in accordance with the provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 38, section 480-N. 
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF 
Lake Water Quality Restoration and Protection Fund N422 
Initiative: Provides ongoing allocations to allow for expenditures regarding projects that 
meet specific criteria and improve or maintain the quality of lake waters in the State. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
2023-24 
$1,000,000 
$1,000,000 
2024-25 
$1,500,000 
$1,500,000 
8 
Amend the bill by re lettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT •ff• to H.P. 105, L.D. 164 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and incorporates a number of changes and 
clarifications to the Lake Restoration and Protection Fund under the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 38, section 480-N, including changing the name of the fund to the Lake 
Water Quality Restoration and Protection Fund, clarifying the types of projects that are 
eligible for 100% payment of eligible costs under the fund and the scope of fund 
expenditures not related to those projects. The amendment also provides allocations of 
$1,000,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 and $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2024-25 to help pay costs 
related to projects that improve or maintain the quality of lake waters. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 02/ 16/23 ;Wac 
LD 164 
LR 279(02) 
An Act to Fund the Lake Restoration and Protection Fund 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment.;J.{fl-t-//) 
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2023-24 
FY 2024-25 
Projections 
FY 2025-26 
Projections 
FY 2026-27 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Revenue 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$1,000,000 
$1,000,000 
($1,000,000) 
$1,000,000 
$1,500,000 
$1,500,000 
($1,500,000) 
$1,500,000 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
This bill includes Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 and $1,500,000 in 
fiscal year 2024-25 to the Lake Water Quality Restoration and Protection Fund (LWQRPF) within the Department of 
Environmental Protection to allow expenditures related to projects that improve or maintain the quality oflake waters. 
The allocations are funded by one-time transfers of $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 and $1,500,000 in fiscal year 
2024-25 from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund to the L WQRPF. 
LR0279(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1