Whereas, the 90-day period would delay the processing of the 1998 income tax returns; and

Whereas, legislative action is immediately necessary to ensure continued and efficient administration of the Maine income tax law and certain other state taxes; 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. 36 MRSA §111, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 1997, c. 596, §1 and affected by §2, is further amended to read:

1-A. Code. "Code" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and amendments to that Code as of December 31, 1997 1998.

Sec. 2. Application. This Act applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 1998.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill conforms the Maine income, estate and mining excise tax laws with the federal tax laws as of December 31, 1998 for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 1998.