Representative Dennis Keschl

LD 225	An Act Regarding Transportation Management Software and School Bus Replacement	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, April 4, 2019
LD 225 This bill establishes in statute the criteria for the replacement of conventional and transit-style school buses through the Department of Education and prohibits the department from requiring a school administrative unit to use a specific brand of routing and transportation management software.

LD 267	An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Practice of Pharmacy	Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Dead, Non-concurrence, March 21, 2019
LD 267 This bill specifies that the practice of pharmacy is the provision of health care services.

LD 399	An Act To Align Wages for Direct Care Workers for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism with the Minimum Wage	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-412, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate June 7, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 399 This bill specifies that the MaineCare reimbursement rate for direct care workers for adults with intellectual disabilities or autism must be at least 125% of the state minimum wage. Amendment H-412 This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, adds an appropriations and allocations section to the bill. LD 399 fiscal note LD 399 Amendment H-412 fiscal note

LD 473	An Act To Allow Flexibility in Residential Rental Agreements	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, May 2, 2019
LD 473 This bill repeals the limit on security deposits on residential rental units.

LD 555	An Act To Reduce Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality by Updating Screening Coverage	Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-46, Enacted, Signed into law May 8, 2019
LD 555 This bill removes references to the age of the patient for purposes of requiring coverage for colorectal cancer screening for asymptomatic individuals who are at average risk for colorectal cancer and instead requires coverage in accordance with the most recently published guidelines of a national cancer society. In addition, this bill requires coverage of all colorectal examinations and laboratory tests recommended by a health care provider in accordance with those published guidelines. Amendment S-46 This amendment makes the bill's requirements for coverage of colorectal cancer screening apply to health insurance plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2020. The amendment also adds language exempting the Act from the provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 24-A, section 2752. LD 555 Chaptered Law LD 555 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 612	An Act To Promote Youth Employment	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, April 16, 2019
LD 612 This bill establishes a minimum hourly wage for persons who are 16 or 17 years of age that is $1.00 per hour less than the regular minimum hourly wage, a minimum hourly wage for persons who are 15 years of age that is $2.00 per hour less than the regular minimum hourly wage and a minimum hourly wage for persons who are 14 years of age and under that is $3.00 per hour less than the regular minimum hourly wage.

LD 633	An Act To Create a Permanent Navigator Position within the Department of Health and Human Services	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-195, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate May 14, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 633 This bill requires the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to appoint one person to administer all issues related to the placement of a child with a relative. Amendment H-195 This amendment, which is the unanimous report of the committee, replaces the bill. It establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services the kinship care navigator program to provide resources and information to persons providing kinship care to children in the State. It requires the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to designate one person to administer the program. It also adds an appropriations and allocations section. LD 633 fiscal note LD 633 Amendment H-195 fiscal note

LD 649	An Act To Enhance Collaboration among State Agencies To Improve Landowner Relations	Status: Referred to Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 30, 2019
LD 649 This bill directs all state agencies and in particular the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Department of Marine Resources and the Department of Economic and Community Development to collaborate with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to implement the landowner relations program. This bill directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to organize the collaboration to distribute as evenly as practicable the burden experienced by the various agencies arising from the public use of private lands.

LD 650	An Act To Strengthen Maine's Landowner Relations Program	Status: Referred to Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, Work session held, May 8, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 650 This bill provides ongoing funding for 5 additional Deputy Game Warden positions and associated costs in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

LD 668	Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Convene a Work Group To Study Improving Traffic Safety for Color-blind Drivers	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 11, 2019
LD 668 This resolve directs the Department of Transportation to convene a work group of interested parties and persons with expertise in traffic light systems and technology to study requiring new traffic lights to accommodate color-blind drivers. It requires the study to include an analysis of the effectiveness of the available technology and its costs. The department is directed to submit a report on its study, including any suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation by December 4, 2019. The joint standing committee is authorized to report out a bill related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.

LD 808	An Act To Create a Youth Wage	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, April 16, 2019
LD 808 This bill establishes a minimum hourly wage for a person who is under 18 years of age and is enrolled as a student in a school. The wage is 75% of the regular minimum hourly wage.

LD 911	An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Promote Land Conservation, Working Waterfronts, Water Access and Outdoor Recreation	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 911 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $95,000,000, will be used to provide funds for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands and the Land for Maine's Future Board.

LD 915	An Act To Provide Adequate Reimbursement under MaineCare for Ambulance and Neonatal Transport Services	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment S-104, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate May 28, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 915 This bill specifies that beginning September 1, 2019 the reimbursement rate for ambulance services under the MaineCare program may not be less than the average allowable reimbursement rate under Medicare and reimbursement for neonatal transport services under MaineCare must be at the average rate for critical care transport services under Medicare. Amendment S-104 This amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section to provide funding to increase the reimbursement rate for ambulance services. LD 915 fiscal note LD 915 Amendment S-104 fiscal note

LD 948	An Act To Restrict Ordinances That Affect the Posting of Property for Municipal and Private Land	Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 26, 2019
LD 948 This bill provides that a municipality or political subdivision of the State may not enact an ordinance, law or rule regulating the posting of property by marking with signs or paint that is different from the provisions in state law regulating the posting of property by marking with signs or paint.

LD 970	An Act To Encourage Policies Regarding Accessory Dwelling Units under Local Comprehensive Plans and Zoning Requirements	Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-179, Enacted, Signed into law May 23, 2019
LD 970 This bill directs municipalities to develop policies in the comprehensive planning process that provide for accessory dwelling units, which are dwelling units located within a detached single-family dwelling unit. Amendment H-179 This amendment expands the definition of "accessory dwelling unit" to include a dwelling unit attached to and detached from another single-dwelling unit. It clarifies that municipalities are encouraged to develop policies in the comprehensive planning process that provide for accessory dwelling units, but it does not require municipalities to permit accessory dwelling units. It reorganizes the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 4236, subsection 3-A, paragraph G for ease of understanding. LD 970 Chaptered Law LD 970 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 987	An Act To Provide Autonomy for Health Care Providers To Practice Patient-centered Care by Amending the Laws Governing Medical Exemptions to Immunization Requirements	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, June 5, 2019
LD 987 This bill provides that a medical exemption from immunization for the purposes of attendance at a nursery school, a child care facility, a family child care provider or an elementary, secondary or postsecondary school, or for employees at certain health care facilities, is at the sole discretion of the student's or employee's health care provider. It prohibits the adoption of rules or policies related to medical exemptions, including, but not limited to, rules or policies that establish requirements for medical exemptions and rules or policies requiring the review, acceptance or rejection of medical exemptions. The bill also removes the authority of school boards, the governing boards of private schools and municipalities to have more stringent immunization requirements than state law.

LD 1028	An Act To Prevent and Reduce Tobacco Use with Adequate Funding and by Equalizing the Taxes on Tobacco Products and To Improve Public Health	Status: Referred to Taxation Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-622 and House amendment H-656, Enacted, Signed into law July 2, 2019
LD 1028 This bill increases the cigarette tax from $2.00 to $3.50 per pack of 20 cigarettes and increases the tax on all other tobacco products including electronic cigarettes to 81% of the wholesale sales price, beginning November 1, 2019. The bill provides that, if the tax on cigarettes is increased on or after November 1, 2019, the tax on all other tobacco products will be adjusted by a rate that is equivalent to the percentage change in the tax rate for one cigarette. The bill provides ongoing funding, $11,100,000 per year, to the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention for tobacco use prevention and cessation in order to align with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. The bill also provides $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $750,000 thereafter for MaineCare members for tobacco use cessation medications and counseling. Finally, the bill provides $250,000 per year in ongoing funding to the Attorney General's office for increased tobacco enforcement activities. Amendment H-622 This amendment strikes the bill and instead increases the tax on tobacco products, other than cigarettes, to 43% of the wholesale sales price, beginning January 2, 2020, and includes electronic smoking devices and liquids used in electronic smoking devices in the definition of "tobacco products." The amendment provides that, if the tax on cigarettes is increased after January 2, 2020, the tax on smokeless tobacco and other tobacco products will be adjusted by a rate that is equivalent to the percentage change in the tax rate for one cigarette. The amendment provides ongoing funding of $5,100,000 in each year of the biennium to the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention for tobacco use prevention and cessation in order to align with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. The bill also provides $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $750,000 in fiscal year 2020-21 for tobacco use cessation medications and counseling for MaineCare members. Amendment H-656 This amendment reduces appropriations for tobacco use prevention and cessation and adds provisions increasing reimbursement for certain services under the MaineCare program, providing an income tax deduction for student loan payments made by a taxpayer's employer directly to a lender on behalf of a qualified health care employee and transferring Other Special Revenue Funds in the Department of Health and Human Services to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund. LD 1028 Chaptered Law LD 1028 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1079

An Act To Require Public Schools To Periodically Test for Radon

Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-251, Enacted, Signed into law May 30, 2019

LD 1079
This bill requires school administrative units to test schools and other buildings for radon every 5 years. The radon testing must comply with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's recommended testing standards for schools. A school administrative unit must notify parents, faculty and staff of the test results and must report test results to the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Department of Health and Human Services must report these results every 5 years to the Governor and the Legislature.

The bill also requires school administrative units to build new schools and buildings using radon-resistant new construction techniques as recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Amendment H-251
This amendment, which is the unanimous report of the committee, removes the requirement in the bill that school administrative units test for radon, but allows school administrative units to test for radon. It provides that any testing and new school construction must comply with rules adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services instead of recommendations of the United States Environmental Protection Agency as in the bill.

LD 1079 Chaptered Law
LD 1079 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1170	An Act To Raise the Floor of State Education Funding	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 1170 This bill changes the formula for determining the minimum state allocation for a school administrative unit to be the unit's total cost of education, as adjusted, multiplied by 15% or the unit's special education costs, as adjusted, whichever is greater. This bill also guarantees a member municipality a minimum state contribution of 15% of the municipality's total cost of education, as adjusted, and requires the funds to be paid to the school administrative unit and deducted from the municipality's required contribution.

LD 1171	An Act To Prevent Sexual and Domestic Violence and To Support Survivors	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment S-86, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate May 16, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1171 This bill provides funding for sexual assault and domestic violence prevention and victim services. Amendment S-86 This amendment incorporates a fiscal note. LD 1171 Amendment S-86 fiscal note

LD 1209	An Act To Require Legislative Hearings on Citizen-initiated Legislation	Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-204, Enacted, Signed into law May 23, 2019
LD 1209 This bill requires a petition for the direct initiative of legislation, once it has been certified by the Secretary of State to be submitted to the Legislature for consideration by the Legislature to receive a public hearing before a joint standing committee of the Legislature or a special legislative committee established by the Legislative Council. The public hearing must be conducted in the same manner as other public hearings. Amendment H-204 This amendment permits the Legislature to waive the public hearing requirement by a 2/3 vote of those present in each House of the Legislature. LD 1209 Chaptered Law LD 1209 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1270	An Act To Create Certain Recreational Opportunities on State-owned Land	Status: Referred to Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, Work session held, April 16, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1270 This bill provides that, beginning January 1, 2020, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands may develop new marked hiking trails within the unorganized territory on which loaded firearms are permitted and within 300 feet of which, during the months of October and November, firearms may be discharged.

LD 1274	An Act To Enact the Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program	Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-110 and Senate amendment S-338, Enacted, Signed into law July 2, 2019
LD 1274 This bill establishes the Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program in the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance to provide support for consumers, including prospective consumers, of health insurance and to health insurance customer assistance programs and health insurance ombudsman programs. Some of the services the new program may provide include assisting with filing complaints and appeals regarding decisions made by a group health plan, health insurance carrier or independent review organization and obtaining health insurance premium tax credits on behalf of consumers. The Superintendent of Insurance is required to contract with a nonprofit, independent health insurance consumer assistance entity that is not an insurer to operate the consumer assistance program, and funding is provided for that requirement. Amendment S-110 This amendment transfers the responsibility for contracting for the Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program from the Bureau of Insurance to the Attorney General. The amendment also makes other clarifying changes to the bill. Amendment S-338 This amendment requires, in fiscal year 2019-20 and fiscal year 2020-21, the State Controller to transfer $200,000 from available balances in the Bureau of Insurance Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to the Department of the Attorney General. The amendment also provides an Other Special Revenue Funds allocation to the Department of the Attorney General and makes other technical changes. LD 1274 Chaptered Law LD 1274 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1277	An Act To Require the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention To Be Credentialed	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-101 and Senate amendment S-339, Enacted, Signed into law July 2, 2019
LD 1277 This bill establishes qualifications for the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention within the Department of Health and Human Services, and requires that the director report annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters on challenges and threats to public health and ways in which the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has responded to those challenges and threats. Amendment S-101 This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, amends the qualifications for the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and adds an appropriations and allocations section. Amendment S-339 This amendment strikes the appropriations and allocations section. LD 1277 Chaptered Law LD 1277 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1284	An Act To Create the Science and Policy Advisory Council on the Impact of Climate Change on Maine's Marine Species	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, June 3, 2019
LD 1284 This bill establishes the Science and Policy Advisory Council on the Impact of Climate Change on Maine's Marine Species to examine the effects of climate change on Maine's marine ecosystems as habitat for the State's valuable commercial marine species and the direct and indirect effects of climate change on those commercial marine species. The council will identify, study and make recommendations to remediate and mitigate the direct and indirect effects of climate change on marine species that are commercially harvested and grown in the State's coastal and ocean environments.

LD 1339

An Act To Recalculate Retirement Benefits for Certain State Employees Adversely Affected by Merit Pay Freezes

Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, June 11, 2019

LD 1339
The law governing the calculation of retirement benefits for members of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System was amended by Public Law 2015, chapter 267, Part CCCC, section 1 and Public Law 2015, chapter 385 to allow members who retired on or after June 30, 2015 to pay the necessary member contributions to include in their retirement benefit calculations wages lost due to merit pay freezes and longevity pay freezes.

This bill authorizes a member of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System who retired on or after March 1, 2014 and prior to June 30, 2015 to include in the member's retirement benefit calculations wages lost due to merit pay freezes, retroactive to the date of the member's retirement. This provision does not include lost wages due to longevity pay freezes.

LD 1363

An Act To Amend Certain Laws Relating to High-impact Electric Transmission Lines (Emergency)

Status: Dead, Referred to Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-437 and House amendment H-504, Enacted, Vetoed, Veto sustained in the House, June 13, 2019

LD 1363
This bill prohibits the Public Utilities Commission from issuing a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a high-impact electric transmission line unless the commission finds significant tangible public benefits will result from the construction and use of the line, and all municipalities through which the high-impact electric transmission line will pass have held a local referendum and certified to the commission that a majority of the voters voting at the election voted in favor of the construction of the line through that municipality.

This bill also establishes a moratorium on the issuance of any permit, certificate or other approval by the Public Utilities Commission or the Department of Environmental Protection for a high-impact electric transmission line until 90 days after the adjournment of the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature to allow time for the commission, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, to adopt rules necessary to implement the requirements of the legislation.

Amendment H-437
This amendment changes the bill as follows:

1. It modifies the definition of "high-impact electric transmission line" to include a transmission line that is:

A. Greater than 50 miles in length;
B. Capable of operating at 200 kilovolts or more;
C. Not a generator interconnection transmission facility; and
D. Not constructed primarily to provide electric reliability within the State;

2. It replaces the requirement that a high-impact electric transmission line provide significant tangible benefits with requirements that:

A. The petitioner for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the line pay an amount of tax benefits projected by the petitioner; and
B. The petitioner for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the line provide a community benefits package with a total value of no less than $20,000 per year per megawatt of capacity of the line;

3. It requires that at least 2/3 of the local governments through which the high-impact electric transmission line will pass approve the line and clarifies that if a referendum vote is held, that vote supersedes any vote by local government officers; and
4. It makes other clarifying changes.

LD 1396	An Act To Update the Laws Governing the Regional Library Systems	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-182, Enacted, Signed into law May 23, 2019
LD 1396 This bill makes administrative updates to the laws governing regional library systems. It promotes cooperation between library systems by replacing library districts with library regions, consolidating the district councils by establishing the Maine Library Advisory Council to serve as an advisory body to the library regions and directing staff of the Maine State Library holding the position of consultant or specialist to provide services to library regions as appointed by the State Librarian. The bill also revises the membership and terms of the Maine Library Commission. Amendment H-182 This amendment revises the membership of the Maine Library Commission. LD 1396 Chaptered Law LD 1396 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1431	Resolve, To Support Municipal Recycling Programs (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-237, Finally passed, Signed into law May 30, 2019
LD 1431 This resolve requires the Department of Environmental Protection to develop proposed legislation to establish a new product stewardship program requiring producers of packaging to assist Maine municipalities in managing and financing packaging waste disposal and recycling programs in the State. The proposed legislation is required also to incentivize producers of packaging to design packaging to be recycled or made of recycled content to strengthen the recycling markets. The resolve requires the department to submit the proposed legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources no later than December 16, 2019. Amendment H-237 This amendment removes from the resolve the emergency preamble and emergency clause and clarifies the scope of the new packaging stewardship program to be developed by the Department of Environmental Protection under the resolve. LD 1431 Chaptered Law LD 1431 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1480	An Act To Modify Retirement Plans for Fire Investigators and Sergeants	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-568, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate June 19, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1480 This bill changes the eligibility requirements for the retirement of a state fire marshal investigator, state fire marshal senior investigator and state fire marshal sergeant under the Maine Public Employees Retirement System from 55 years of age and 25 years of creditable service to just 20 years of creditable service. Amendment H-568 This amendment is the majority report of the committee and replaces the bill. The amendment changes the eligibility requirements for the retirement of a state fire marshal investigator, state fire marshal senior investigator and state fire marshal sergeant under the Maine Public Employees Retirement System from 55 years of age and 25 years of creditable service to 20 years of creditable service. The amendment establishes a special retirement plan for a state fire marshal investigator, state fire marshal senior investigator and state fire marshal sergeant based on 20 years of creditable service. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section to provide the funding. LD 1480 Amendment H-568 fiscal note

LD 1517	An Act To Facilitate the Deployment of Small Wireless Facilities in Maine	Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-363, Enacted, Signed into law June 6, 2019
LD 1517 This bill provides that a small wireless facility must be a permitted use within the public right-of-way, subject to any duly adopted, nondiscriminatory conditions otherwise applicable to permitted uses within the municipality and consistent with state and federal law, including, without limitation, any permitting requirements in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, chapter 25. Amendment H-363 This amendment clarifies that small wireless facilities are subject to permits and permitting requirements and that this legislation does not alter a franchise agreement between a cable television company and a municipality. LD 1517 Chaptered Law LD 1517 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1600	An Act To Support E-9-1-1 Dispatchers and Corrections Officers Diagnosed with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, June 5, 2019
LD 1600 This bill adds corrections officers and E-9-1-1 dispatchers to the list of employees for whom there is a rebuttable presumption under the laws governing workers' compensation that when the employee is diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist as having post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from work stress that was extraordinary and unusual, the post-traumatic stress disorder is presumed to have arisen out of and in the course of the worker's employment.

LD 1604	An Act To Authorize General Fund Bond Issues To Improve Highways, Bridges and Multimodal Facilities (Governor's Bill)	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1604 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $100,000,000 in both 2019 and 2020, will be used for reconstruction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges and for facilities or equipment related to ports, harbors, marine transportation, freight and passenger railroads, aviation, transit and bicycle and pedestrian trails, matching an estimated $137,000,000 per year in federal and other funds.

LD 1637	An Act To Prevent Medicaid Payment from a Savings Account Established under the Federal ABLE Act of 2014	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-179, Enacted, Signed into law June 17, 2019
LD 1637 This bill: 1. Prohibits the State, or any agency or instrumentality of the State, from seeking payment from an ABLE account or its proceeds for MaineCare benefits provided to a beneficiary, unless otherwise required by federal law; 2. Provides that funds held in an ABLE account must be disregarded when determining the designated beneficiary's eligibility for any means-tested public assistance program; and 3. Provides that earnings on funds held in an ABLE account are exempt from taxation by the State. Amendment S-179 This amendment, which is the unanimous report of the committee, clarifies the provisions regarding the exemption of an account established under a qualified ABLE program that complies with the requirements of the federal Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014, Public Law 113-295 from Medicaid estate recovery to the extent permitted under federal law. LD 1637 Chaptered Law LD 1637 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1679

An Act To Establish the Maine Climate Change Council To Assist Maine To Mitigate, Prepare for and Adapt to Climate Change (Governor's Bill)

Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-221, Enacted as an emergency measure, Signed into law June 26, 2019

LD 1679
This bill:

1. Establishes the Maine Climate Change Council to assist Maine to mitigate, prepare for and adapt to climate change;
2. Provides that by January 1, 2030 80% of electricity consumed in the State must come from renewable resources and by January 1, 2050 100% of electricity consumed in the State must come from renewable resources;
3. Updates the greenhouse gas emissions reductions required in statute; and
4. Requires that the state climate action plan be updated by December 1, 2020 and every 4 years thereafter.

Amendment S-221
This amendment changes the title of the bill, adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause and makes the following additional changes to the bill.

1. It removes from the bill provisions regarding requirements for the consumption of electricity from renewable resources.
2. It stipulates an interim greenhouse gas emissions reductions level to be achieved by January 1, 2040, requiring by such date that the greenhouse gas emissions reductions be on a trajectory sufficient to achieve the 2050 annual emissions reductions level in the bill.
3. It clarifies the rule-making authority concerning compliance rules for the greenhouse gas emissions reductions levels required under the bill, specifying that the rules are to be adopted by the Board of Environmental Protection rather than the Department of Environmental Protection and that the rules must be consistent with the updated climate action plan and must be fair and equitable and account for and give significant weight to greenhouse gas emissions reductions already achieved by various sectors.
4. It requires the State's climate action plan update to include development of a clean energy economy transition plan.
5. It amends the Maine Climate Change Council, which is proposed in the bill, as follows.

A. It changes the name of the council to the Maine Climate Council.
B. It adds as a member of the council the Commissioner of Labor, increasing the total membership to 39.
C. It clarifies member compensation and terms of membership, increasing the term for public members from 2 years to 3 years.
D. It clarifies the purpose and makeup of the council's steering committee as well as the designation of the members of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the working groups.
E. It clarifies the duties and responsibilities of the council, the subcommittee and the working groups.
F. It removes language from the bill authorizing the subcommittee and the working groups to solicit and accept funding, and instead authorizes the council to conduct all funding solicitation and acceptance.
G. It requires, beginning January 15, 2021, and annually thereafter, that the council submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over environment and natural resources matters describing the activities of the council, the subcommittee and its working groups over the prior calendar year and including any findings and recommendations of the council, including any proposed legislation. After reviewing the report, the committee may report out legislation to implement any recommendations contained in the report.

It requires that the report also include a list of the amounts and sources of any funds accepted by the council in the prior calendar year, excluding those funds appropriated or allocated by the Legislature, and an indication of whether such outside funds were expended in the prior calendar year and, if expended, the purpose or purposes of the expenditure.

6. It makes a number of other clarifications and technical changes to the bill.

LD 1679 Chaptered Law
LD 1679 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1719	An Act To Improve Geographic Information System Data Acquisition and Maintenance	Status: Referred to Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment S-261, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate June 12, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1719 This bill moves the Maine Library of Geographic Information, the Geolibrary, from the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and establishes the Maine Library of Geographic Information Board in the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to administer the Geolibrary. This bill adds a Geolibrarian and a GIS information officer, appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, to the staff of the Maine Library of Geographic Information, to collect, perserve and disseminate data, manage funds and direct the Geolibrary's activities. The bill repeals language allowing the administrator of the Office of Geographic Information Systems to enter into agreements with other agencies and to accept funds from public and private organizations, repeals language describing licensing agreement and fee requirements for geographic information system data and repeals language allowing the Maine Library of Geographic Information Board to hear and resolve disputes related to geographic information system data. Amendment S-261 This amendment makes changes to the composition of the Maine Library of Geographic Information Board. The amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section. LD 1719 Amendment S-261 fiscal note

LD 318	An Act To Prepare All Students for Work and Life by Requiring That Students Receive Instruction in Vocational Preparation and Practical Life Skills	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, May 23, 2019
LD 318 This bill changes the requirement in the system of learning results from "career and education development" to "vocational preparation and practical life skills." The bill defines "vocational preparation and practical life skills" to mean experiential instruction of students, regardless of career choice or pathway, that develops their understanding of interests, aptitudes and options related to work and study; develops core workplace skills in areas such as planning, communication, problem solving, teamwork and computer applications; and includes practical workplace and home economics experiences that maximize learning through hands-on application.

LD 319	An Act To Standardize the Laws Concerning Property Transfers and To Protect Water Quality	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 19, 2019
LD 319 This bill extends to inland shoreland areas the requirement that subsurface waste water disposal systems on property located within a shoreland area be inspected prior to a sale of the property. Currently, that inspection requirement applies only to the sale of property located within a coastal shoreland area.

LD 667	RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Require That the Governor Be Elected by a Majority Vote	Status: Referred to Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 19, 2019
LD 667 This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to require that a candidate for Governor receive more than 50% of the votes cast to be elected. Currently, the candidate who receives the largest number of votes, regardless of that number's percentage of the total number of votes cast, becomes Governor. This resolution requires a run-off election between the 2 persons who received the largest number of votes when no candidate received more than 50% of the total number of votes cast. The person who receives the larger number of votes in the run-off election is declared Governor.

LD 959	An Act To Increase Funding for the Maine Lakes Society "LakeSmart" Program and the Lake Stewards of Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-102 and Senate amendment S-333, Enacted, Signed into law July 2, 2019
LD 959 This bill provides increased funding to allow the Department of Environmental Protection to make grants to the Lake Stewards of Maine for the volunteer lake monitoring program and the Maine Lakes Society for the "LakeSmart" education program. This bill also provides funds to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission for pollution control training programs. Amendment H-102 This amendment increases the annual funding increase proposed in the bill for New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission from $25,000 to $50,000. Amendment S-333 This amendment reduces by $75,000 per fiscal year the appropriations in the bill, as amended by Committee Amendment H-102. LD 959 Chaptered Law LD 959 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 983	An Act To Exempt from Permit Requirements the Repair of Low-head Dams	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-174, Enacted, Signed into law May 16, 2019
LD 983 This bill exempts low-head dams from the permitting requirements for repair under the Natural Resources Protection Act. Amendment H-174 This amendment clarifies that certain maintenance and repairs of nonhydropower dams are exempt from permitting requirements under the Natural Resources Protection Act if certain specified requirements are met. LD 983 Chaptered Law LD 983 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1536	An Act To Require Municipalities To Maintain Access on Public Rights-of-way	Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 1536 This bill: 1. Provides that in the context of a road discontinuance proceeding the municipal officers must proceed with a discontinuance without retaining a public easement if the municipal officers verify that private easements that run with the title of the property owners' land for the purpose of allowing travel along the way for all abutting property owners and their lessees and guests have been filed with the registry of deeds. If the municipal officers are unable to verify those easements, they may discontinue the road only if a public easement is retained and the public use for which the easement is retained is specified. If the municipality retains a public easement, the municipality must provide sufficient public maintenance of the public easement to allow the specified use; 2. Modifies the road abandonment law to provide that: A. A presumption of abandonment of a way is fully rebutted and removed by evidence that records maintained by the Department of Transportation indicate that a municipality received funds under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 23, chapter 19, subchapter 6 based on any mileage of the way during any portion of the 30 or more consecutive years of apparent discontinuance; B. A municipality may not intentionally cease to maintain a way as a means of creating a presumption of abandonment and a presumption of abandonment is fully rebutted and removed by evidence that a municipality intentionally ceased maintenance as a means of creating a presumption of abandonment; and C. A municipality may not assert a presumption of abandonment for any way that was discontinued prior to September 3, 1965 that resulted in a public easement; 3. Moves a provision of law relating to the removal of snow fences along public highways from a section relating to mail routes to the section of law relating to snow removal; 4. Requires a town to maintain any town public right-of-way used as part of a United States postal route in passable condition for postal service delivery. All maintenance must be in accordance with applicable United States Postal Service requirements. If the postal service route is seasonal, the right-of-way must be maintained for the applicable season and, if the mail route is year-round, it must be maintained year-round; and 5. Provides that a failure of a town to meet the snow removal and other maintenance requirements of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 23, section 3201 and section 3202, subsection 1 is deemed a failure to maintain a way under Title 23, chapter 313 and the actions and remedies specified in sections 3651 to 3655 of that chapter apply to such a failure.

LD 1599	An Act To Allow Certain State Regulators To Lower Fees by Order	Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, May 30, 2019
LD 1599 This bill authorizes the Superintendent of Insurance, the Superintendent of Consumer Credit Protection, the Superintendent of Financial Institutions and the Director of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation to lower or suspend certain fees specified in law by order.