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Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1.  37-B MRSA §512  is enacted to read:
§ 512. Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System Care Fund
 
1.  Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System Care Fund establishment; purpose.   The Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System Care Fund, known in this section as "the fund," is established for the purpose of ensuring ongoing care and maintenance of veterans' graves within the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System after plot interment allowances for burials within the system are no longer received from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The fund is established from deposits of 1/3 of the funds received from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for plot interment allowances. The fund may also accept private and public donations. The fund is separate from other perpetual care or cemetery maintenance funds that support veterans' cemeteries and were established prior to the effective date of this section.
Sec. 2. Expenditures prohibited. An expenditure or promise of payment may not be made from the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System Care Fund established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 37-B, section 512 prior to the enactment of guidelines in statute that govern the investment of revenue, interest or principal from the fund and criteria by which expenditures for perpetual care are established.
Sec. 3. Director of Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services to report on future investment plan. The Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services within the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management shall consult with the Treasurer of State to develop an investment plan for the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System Care Fund established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 37-B, section 512 that provides appropriate guidelines for investment and expenditures from the fund. The director shall submit the report and any suggested legislation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over veterans' cemeteries no later than February 15, 2011. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over veterans' cemeteries is authorized to submit a bill to the First Regular Session of the 125th Legislature based on the report.
Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Veterans Services 0110
 
Initiative: Establishes the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System Care Fund and provides a base allocation.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2009-10	2010-11	
All Other	$0	$500	
			
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$0	$500	
 
’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill, which was a concept draft. The amendment establishes a fund to support the perpetual care of veterans' graves within the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System. The fund receives deposits from a portion of plot interment allowances provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The fund is authorized to receive public and private donations in addition to the plot interment allowance. The amendment directs the Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services within the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management to work with the Treasurer of State to develop a plan for investment of money in the fund and criteria for expenditures for the perpetual care of veterans' graves.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)