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An Act To Strengthen Collection of Unredeemed Beverage Container Deposits
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  it is in the public interest to ensure that initiators of deposit are in compliance with reporting and payment requirements as soon as possible; and
Whereas,  revisions are needed to facilitate compliance with those requirements; 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,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §1866-E, sub-§8  is enacted to read:
 
8.  Removal of beverage.   The department may remove from sale a beverage that is sold or distributed in the State by an initiator of deposit who is not in compliance with the reporting and payment requirements established in this section if the department is notified by the State Tax Assessor of that noncompliance. The department shall allow the sale of the beverage to resume upon notification by the State Tax Assessor that all delinquent reports have been submitted and all payments are current.
Sec. 2.  36 MRSA §191, sub-§2, ¶PP  is enacted to read:
 
PP.  The disclosure of registration, reporting and payment information to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources necessary for the administration of Title 32, chapter 28.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the laws relating to beverage containers to provide that the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources may remove beverages from sale when the initiator of deposit is not in compliance with reporting and payment requirements.
This bill amends the laws governing the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Revenue Services to provide that the bureau may disclose to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources registration, reporting and payment information necessary for the administration and enforcement of the beverage container laws.