January 15, 2020

WEEKLY NOTICES OF STATE RULEMAKING
Public Input for Proposed and Adopted Rules

Notices are published each Wednesday to alert the public regarding state agency rulemaking. 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 rulemaking if the petition is signed by 150 or more registered voters, and may begin rulemaking 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 rulemaking liaisons, who are single points of contact for each agency.

PROPOSALS

AGENCY: 17-229 - Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 800, Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Program Rules
TYPE OF RULE: Routine Technical
PROPOSED RULE NUMBER: 2020-P003
BRIEF SUMMARY: The purpose of these rules is to establish a process to evaluate and authorize an autonomous vehicle tester to demonstrate and deploy for testing purposes an automated driving system on a public way. These rules describe the Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Project Program and the process by which an autonomous vehicle tester may apply to demonstrate and deploy an automated driving system on a public way in the state of Maine for testing purposes. These rules are intended to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, the safe and lawful conduct of autonomous vehicle Pilot Projects undertaken in Maine.
PUBLIC HEARING: February 3, 2020 - 2:00 p.m., MaineDOT Headquarters -Conference Room 216, 24 Child Street, Augusta, Maine
COMMENT DEADLINE: February 14, 2020
CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING: Joyce Taylor, 16 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04330. Telephone: (207) 624-3000. Email: Joyce.Taylor@Maine.gov.
FINANCIAL IMPACT ON MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES: minimal 
CONTACT PERSON FOR SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT: n/a
STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS RULE: Resolve 2018 ch. 46 - HP 1204 - LD 1724; 23 MRS §52
SUBSTANTIVE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW BEING IMPLEMENTED (if different): n/a
MDOT RULEMAKING WEBSITE: https://www.maine.gov/mdot/rulemaking/.
MDOT WEBSITE: https://www.maine.gov/mdot/.
MDOT RULEMAKING LIAISON: Toni.Kemmerle@Maine.gov.

ADOPTIONS

AGENCY: 19-100 - Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 100, Pine Tree Development Zone Program
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2020-008
CONCISE SUMMARY: The Pine Tree Development Zone Program was established by the Legislature in 2003 and has been amended in 2005, 2009, 2018 and 2019. The 2018 amendment extended the program an additional three years and also made significant changes to the administrative and certification processes of the program. The 2019 amendment removed the requirement that PTDZ applications for certification had to be reviewed by the State Economist and for DECD to obtain an advisory impact from the State Economist. The Department of Economic and Community Development administers the program. This rule establishes criteria to determine eligibility for the Pine Tree Development Zone program, the process used by businesses to apply for certification and the requirements that must be met and maintained to claim benefits available to a certified business.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 13, 2020
DECD CONTACT PERSON: Andrea K. Smith, Department of Economic and Community Development, 59 State House Station, Augusta ME 04333-0059. Telephone: (207) 624-9813. Email: Andrea.Smith@Maine.gov.
DECD WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/decd/.
DECD RULEMAKING LIAISON: Douglas.Ray@Maine.gov.

AGENCY: 19-100 - Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ch. 400, Employment Tax Increment Financing
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER: 2020-009
CONCISE SUMMARY: The Employment Tax Increment Financing (ETIF) Program is designed to encourage the creation of net new quality jobs in this State, improve and broaden the tax base and improve the general economy of the State. The ETIF program was established in 1995 and has been amended several times, most recently in 2017. As an expanded ETIF reimbursement rate is one of the benefits of the Pine Tree Development Zone Program, recent legislative changes to the PTDZ program have resulted in the need to update the ETIF rules for consistency. The Department of Economic and Community Development administers the ETIF program for compliance. This rule establishes criteria to determine eligibility for the ETIF program, the process used by businesses for certification and the requirements that must be met and maintained to claim benefits available to a certified business.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 13, 2020
DECD CONTACT PERSON: Andrea K. Smith, Department of Economic and Community Development, 59 State House Station, Augusta ME 04333-0059. Telephone: (207) 624-9813. Email: Andrea.Smith@Maine.gov.
DECD WEBSITE: http://www.maine.gov/decd/.
DECD RULEMAKING LIAISON: Douglas.Ray@Maine.gov.