An Act to Fund the Operations of the University of Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1012
Sponsors: FARRIN
Amends: 8 MRSA §374, 8 MRSA §387

Legislative Document
No. 1012
S.P. 429
In Senate, March 13, 2025
An Act to Fund the Operations of the University of Maine 
Cooperative Extension Tick Laboratory
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on March 12, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator FARRIN of Somerset.
Cosponsored by Senator: TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin, Representative: GOLEK of 
Harpswell.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA c. 421 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 421
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION TICK LABORATORY 
OPERATIONS FUND 
§2481.  Fund established
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick Laboratory Operations Fund, 
referred to in this chapter as "the fund," is established.  The fund consists of revenues 
received pursuant to Title 8, section 374, subsection 6 and any funds received as 
contributions from private and public sources.  The fund must be held separate and apart 
from all other money, funds and accounts.  Eligible investment earnings credited to the 
assets of the fund become part of the assets of the fund.  Any balance remaining in the fund 
at the end of any fiscal year must be carried forward to the next fiscal year. The fund is 
administered by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
§2482.  Expenditures from fund; distribution
Funds in the fund must be distributed as provided under this section. 
1.  Funds received from State.  All funds received from the State dedicated to the 
fund must be expended on the operations of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension 
tick laboratory or successor laboratory, including, but not limited to, supplies, educational 
materials development, salaries, equipment and travel. 
2.  Funds received from private or public sources.  All funds received from private 
or public sources that were directed to the fund by the donating source must be spent on 
the operations of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension tick laboratory or 
successor laboratory, including, but not limited to, supplies, educational materials 
development, salaries, equipment and travel.
Sec. 2.  8 MRSA §374, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6.  Tick laboratory lottery game.  No later than January 30, 2026, the commission, in 
consultation with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, shall develop and initiate 
a tick laboratory instant lottery game designed to raise funds for the University of Maine 
Cooperative Extension Tick Laboratory Operations Fund established in Title 7, section 
2481.  Tickets for the instant lottery game established under this subsection must be sold 
for $4 and must be changed by the commission periodically throughout the year.  The 
commission shall annually provide 50% of the net proceeds of the lottery game established 
in accordance with this subsection to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick 
Laboratory Operations Fund and 50% to the General Fund.  
Sec. 3.  8 MRSA §387, sub-§1, ¶C, as amended by PL 1995, c. 494, §5, is further 
amended to read:
C.  For payment to the General Fund; and
Sec. 4.  8 MRSA §387, sub-§1, ¶D, as amended by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. B, §18 and 
affected by c. 614, §9, is further amended to read:
D.  For payment to the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund pursuant to Title 12, section 
10302.; and
Sec. 5.  8 MRSA §387, sub-§1, ¶E is enacted to read:
E.  For payment to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick Laboratory 
Operations Fund pursuant to Title 7, section 2481.
Sec. 6.  Report.  By December 15, 2028, the State Liquor and Lottery Commission 
shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over lottery matters detailing the status of the tick laboratory instant lottery game 
established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 8, section 374, subsection 6, 
including revenues received by the General Fund and the University of Maine Cooperative 
Extension Tick Laboratory Operations Fund established in Title 7, section 2481.  The joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over lottery matters may report 
out legislation related to the report to the 134th Legislature in 2029. 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick Laboratory 
Operations Fund and directs the State Liquor and Lottery Commission to develop and 
initiate a $4 instant lottery game to raise funds for the fund.  The commission is required 
to submit a report by December 15, 2028 detailing the status of the instant lottery game to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over lottery matters, 
which may report out legislation related to the report to the 134th Legislature in 2029.