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An Act To Revise the Calculation of Tolls Established for the Maine State Ferry Service
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 23 MRSA §4210-C, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2005, c. 664, Pt. C, §1, is further amended to read:
 
2. Purpose of account.   The purpose of the account is to allow the Highway Fund to provide support to the Maine State Ferry Service that was previously provided by the General Fund because ferries are an integral part of the highway system and carry motor vehicles and are the only method of vehicular transportation available to and from the islands. The state support to the Marine Highway account may not exceed 50% of the budgeted revenues that supportmust fund 100% of the capital costs and no more than 75% of the operating cost of the Maine State Ferry Service.
Sec. 2. 23 MRSA §4404, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 456, Pt. A, §88, is amended to read:
§ 4404.Tolls
The Department of Transportation shall, in a manner consistent with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375, establishadopt rules establishing tolls for the use of suchthe ferry lineroute or linesroutes under this subchapter by vehicles, freight and passengers. Tolls must be calculated based upon the cost of service for vehicles, freight and passengers on each route of travel. In order to ensure affordability for island residents and the viability of the island community, the department may provide discounted tolls to island residents and other frequent users of the service based upon their daily travel needs. Tolls collected from the operation of the Maine State Ferry Service shallmust at all times be kept in a separate fund distinct from all other moneysmoney of the State and shallmust be used for the operation and debt retirement of the ferry service.
Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Transportation, by rule, to establish ferry tolls for each route of travel that are based upon the cost of service for vehicles, freight and passengers, and allows the department to provide discounted tolls for frequent usage of the Maine State Ferry Service. This bill also requires that the Marine Highway account must fund 100% of the capital costs and no more than 75% of the operating costs of the Maine State Ferry Service.