May 6, 2015

WEEKLY NOTICES OF STATE RULE-MAKING
Public Input for Proposed and Adopted Rules

Notices are published each Wednesday to alert the public regarding state agency rule-making. You may obtain a copy of any rule by notifying the agency contact person. You may also comment on the rule, and/or attend the public hearing. If no hearing is scheduled, you may request one -- the agency may then schedule a hearing, and must do so if 5 or more persons request it. If you are disabled or need special services to attend a hearing, please notify the agency contact person at least 7 days prior to it. Petitions: you can petition an agency to adopt, amend, or repeal any rule; the agency must provide you with petition forms, and must respond to your petition within 60 days. The agency must enter rule-making if the petition is signed by 150 or more registered voters, and may begin rule-making if there are fewer. You can also petition the Legislature to review a rule; the Executive Director of the Legislative Council (115 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333, phone 207/287-1615) will provide you with the necessary petition forms. The appropriate legislative committee will review a rule upon receipt of a petition from 100 or more registered voters, or from "...any person who may be directly, substantially and adversely affected by the application of a rule..." (Title 5 Section 11112). World-Wide Web: Copies of the weekly notices and the full texts of adopted rule chapters may be found on the internet at: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules. There is also a list of rule-making liaisons, who are single points of contact for each agency.

PROPOSALS

AGENCY: 01-015 – Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Maine Milk Commission (MMC)
RULE TITLE OR SUBJECT: Ch. 3, Schedule of Minimum Prices, Order #06-15
PROPOSED RULE NUMBER: 2015-P066
CONCISE SUMMARY: The principal reason for this rule is the need to respond to Federal Order changes and to certain other conditions affecting prevailing Class I, II and III milk prices in Southern New England in accordance with 7 MRSA  2954.
SEE INFORMATION AT OUR WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/dacf/milkcommission/index.shtml .
PUBLIC HEARING: May 21, 2015, Thursday, starting at 10:30 a.m., Room 233, Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Deering Building, Hospital Street, Augusta, Maine
DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS: May 21, 2015
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON / SMALL BUSINESS INFORMATION / MMC RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Tim Drake, Maine Milk Commission, 28 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333. Telephone: (207) 287-7521. E-mail: Tim.Drake@Maine.gov .
THIS RULE WILL NOT HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 5 MRSA  8054 and 7 MRSA  2954
WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/dacf/milkcommission/index.shtml .

ADOPTIONS

AGENCY: 01-015 – Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Maine Milk Commission (MMC)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 3, Schedule of Minimum Prices, Order #05-15
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2015-079
CONCISE SUMMARY: Minimum May 2015 Class I price is $19.08/cwt. plus $1.35/cwt. for Producer Margins, an over-order premium of $1.53/cwt. as being prevailing in Southern New England and $1.86/cwt. handling fee for a total of $24.02/cwt. that includes a $0.20/cwt. Federal promotion fee.
Minimum prices can be found at: http://www.maine.gov/dacf/milkcommission/index.shtml.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 3, 2015
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON / SMALL BUSINESS INFORMATION / MMC RULE-MAKING LIAISON: Tim Drake, Maine Milk Commission, 28 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333. Telephone: (207) 287-7521. E-mail: Tim.Drake@Maine.gov .
THIS RULE WILL NOT HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 5 MRSA  8054 and 7 MRSA  2954

AGENCY: 18-125 - Department of Administrative & Financial Services (DAFS), Bureau of Revenue Services (Maine Revenue Services – MRS)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 813 (New), Property Tax Fairness Credit
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2015-080
CONCISE SUMMARY: Maine Revenue Services has adopted new Rule 813 ("Property Tax Fairness Credit"). The property tax fairness credit was enacted to replace the repealed “Maine Residents Property Tax Program” to provide property tax and rent relief to Maine taxpayers. The new rule provides interpretation and guidance on the Maine income tax credit that may be claimed by eligible taxpayers who owned or rented a home in Maine during the tax year and paid property taxes that are greater than 6% of their total income or rent that is greater than 40% of their total income and who lived in that home as their principal residence during the tax year. Particularly, the rule provides guidance on taxpayer eligibility for the credit, defines a homestead that may be occupied as a primary residence, property taxes paid or rent constituting property taxes paid and total income used to determine eligibility. A copy of the rule can be found on the MRS website at http://www.maine.gov/revenue/rules/homepage.html .
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 5, 2015
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Dennis Doiron, Maine Revenue Services, 24 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333. Telephone: (207) 626-8483. E-mail: Dennis.M.Doiron@Maine.gov .
WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/revenue/ .
MRS RULE-MAKING LIAISON: John.W.Sagaser@Maine.gov .

AGENCY: 18-125 - Department of Administrative & Financial Services (DAFS), Bureau of Revenue Services (Maine Revenue Services – MRS)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 901, Maine Residents Property Tax Program
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2015-081
CONCISE SUMMARY: Maine Revenue Services has amended Rule 901 ("Maine Residents Property Tax Program"). The rule reflects the fact that the program does not apply to claim applications filed on or after August 1, 2013. A copy of the rule can be found on the MRS website at http://www.maine.gov/revenue/rules/homepage.html .
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 5, 2015
AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Dennis Doiron, Maine Revenue Services, 24 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333. Telephone: (207) 626-8483. E-mail: Dennis.M.Doiron@Maine.gov .
WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/revenue/ .
MRS RULE-MAKING LIAISON: John.W.Sagaser@Maine.gov .