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Amend the bill in section 2 in §1912-B in the first paragraph in the 7th line (page 1, line 12 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "Rules" and inserting the following: 'Notwithstanding Title 5, section 8071, subsection 3, rules'
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1912-C in subsection 1 by striking out all of paragraph C (page 2, lines 2 and 3 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘C. "College or university" means an accredited institution providing postsecondary education that has authorization to confer a degree in accordance with Title 20-A, chapter 409.’
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1912-C in subsection 2 in the last line (page 2, line 35 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "standards." the following: 'All determinations regarding whether the placement of interchange guide signs or supplemental guide signs on the interstate system meets the standards contained in this section must be made by the signing agency.'
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1912-C in subsection 3 in paragraph C by inserting after subparagraph (1) the following:
‘
 
(2) A municipality with a population of at least 2,000 that is located within 5 miles of the exit, that has a highway that is classified as an arterial or a major collector providing a connection from the exit to the municipality's population center or business district if a portion of the interstate system passes through that municipality;
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1912-C in paragraph C by renumbering the subparagraphs to read consecutively.
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1912-C in subsection 5 in paragraph A in subparagraph (1) in the first line (page 4, line 6 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "5" and inserting the following: '15'
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1912-C in subsection 5 in paragraph B in the first line (page 4, line 9 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "park" the following: 'or state park'
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1912-C in subsection 5 in paragraph B in subparagraph (2) in the first line (page 4, line 12 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "100" and inserting the following: '120'
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1912-C in subsection 5 by striking out all of paragraph C (page 4, lines 14 to 29 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘C.  A major recreational area that is a geographic region that is served by a highway that is classified as an arterial or a major collector. The geographic region must:
 
(1) Contain a beach or lake access that is open to the public, allows swimming for all ages, provides parking for more than 100 vehicles, has rest rooms on or adjacent to the beach or lake access and, with respect to a beach, maintains lifeguards on duty during July and August;
 
(2) Contain a ski area open to the public that:
 
(a) Has a minimum vertical drop of 1,000 feet with 40 or more maintained trails; or
 
(b) Is within 10 miles of the exit, has a minimum vertical drop of 200 feet with 10 or more maintained trails and has an aerial lift servicing groomed trails; or
’
 
(3) Have generated at least 1% of the State's total sales subject to the taxes under Title 36, section 1811 on the value of liquor sold in licensed establishments as defined in Title 28-A, section 2, subsection 15, prepared food and rental of living quarters in any hotel, rooming house or tourist or trailer camp over the previous 3 years and must offer recreational opportunities of sufficient traffic significance to warrant signs in accordance with criteria developed by the signing agency;
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1912-C in subsection 5 by striking out all of paragraph F (page 4, lines 36 to 40 in L.D.)
Amend the bill in section 3 in §1912-C in subsection 5 by relettering the paragraphs to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment specifies that, while the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A requires rules that establish a fee to be major substantive rules, rules adopted in accordance with the provisions of the bill are to be routine technical rules. The amendment removes the requirement that a college or university must be a nonprofit institution and further specifies that the institution must be accredited and authorized to confer a degree in accordance with Title 20-A, chapter 409. The amendment clarifies that all determinations regarding compliance as it relates to interchange and supplemental guide signs are to be made by either the Maine Turnpike Authority or the Department of Transportation. The amendment adds to the bill another allowance for a municipality to be included on an interchange guide sign when that municipality is within 5 miles of the exit, has a population of at least 2,000, has any portion of the interstate system pass through it and is accessible from the interstate via highways that are classified as arterials or major collectors. The amendment expands the distance a college or university with an enrollment of at least 300 students may be from the exit to qualify for a supplemental guide sign from 5 miles to 15 miles. The amendment combines the thresholds that must be met in order for a state park or federal park to qualify for a supplemental guide sign and increases the maximum distance a park may be from an exit from 100 miles to 120 miles when it has a minimum annual attendance of 75,000 recorded visitors. Additionally, the amendment allows a major municipality or destination that is already identified on an interchange guide sign to qualify for a supplemental guide sign under the standards for a major recreational area. Lastly, the amendment expands the type of ski areas that may qualify for a supplemental guide sign by including a ski area that is within 10 miles of an exit, with a minimum vertical drop of 200 feet with 10 or more maintained trails and has an aerial lift servicing groomed trails.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)