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An Act To Promote Regulatory Fairness
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  1 MRSA c. 22  is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 22
REGULATORY TAKINGS
§ 851. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
1.  Fact finder.     "Fact finder" means a jury or, if the right to a jury is waived, the court.
 
2.  Property owner.     "Property owner" means the holder of legal or equitable title to an interest in real property. "Property owner" does not include a governmental entity.
 
3.  Real property.     "Real property" means land and any appurtenances or improvements to the land.
 
4.  Regulation.     "Regulation" means any law, rule, ordinance or other governmental limitation imposed by the State or a state agency on the use of real property. "Regulation" does not include a municipal regulation, except that "regulation" includes an action by a municipality in conformance with a regulation that imposes a mandate on the municipality.
 
5.  Regulator.     "Regulator" means the State, any state agency or any other administrative body of the State.
 
6.  Regulatory taking.     "Regulatory taking" means a burden caused by regulation imposed on a property owner's use of the property owner's real property resulting in a diminution in fair market value.
 
7.  Takings variance.     "Takings variance" means a decision by the State to permit departure from the requirements of a regulation that imposes a regulatory taking.
§ 852. Right to jury trial
There is a right to trial by jury in any action brought under this chapter.
§ 853. When a regulatory taking occurs
If the right to use, divide, sell, occupy or possess real property is reduced by the enactment or application of any regulation, the property owner may seek relief in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
 
1.  Determination.     A property owner is entitled to a determination by the fact finder as to whether a regulatory taking has occurred upon the submission of prima facie evidence, supported by an appraisal, of a diminution in the fair market value of real property.
 
2.  Factors to be weighed.     After a prima facie showing has been made under subsection 1, in determining whether a regulatory taking has in fact occurred, the fact finder shall weigh 3 factors:
 
A.  The extent of the diminution in fair market value of the real property caused by the regulation;
 
B.  The reasonable investment-backed expectations of the property owner; and
 
C.  The character of the use regulated.
 
3.  Cause of action cumulative.     This section provides a cause of action for governmental actions that do not rise to the level of a taking under the Constitution of Maine or the United States Constitution. The remedies provided under this section are cumulative and do not abrogate any other remedy lawfully available, including any remedy lawfully available for governmental actions that rise to the level of a taking under the Constitution of Maine or the United States Constitution.
§ 854. Measure of diminution of fair market value
For the purposes of this chapter, the diminution of fair market value of real property caused by a regulation must be measured by the diminution of the fair market value of the portion of any such parcel to which the regulation directly applies.
§ 855. Excluded regulations
The cause of action established under section 853 does not apply to the following regulations, narrowly construed:
 
1.  Nuisance.     Regulations restricting or prohibiting activities recognized as public nuisances under common law;
 
2.  Public health and safety.     Regulations restricting or prohibiting activities for the protection of public health and safety, such as fire and building codes and health and sanitation regulations;
 
3.  Compliance with federal law.     Regulations required to comply with federal law; and
 
4.  Prospective application.     Regulations enacted prior to the effective date of this section.
§ 856. Relief
Compensation, damages or a takings variance are available as relief for a regulatory taking, at the option of the State.
 
1.  Compensation.     If the State chooses to pay compensation, the fact finder shall award the property owner the fair market value of the real property taken, and the property owner's rights, title and interest in that real property must be transferred to the State or a political subdivision of the State. This option may be exercised only with the consent of the property owner.
 
2.  Damages.     If the State chooses to pay damages, the fact finder shall award the property owner an amount it determines comprises the diminution in fair market value caused by regulation, and title in the real property remains with the property owner. Payment of damages pursuant to this section operates to grant to and vest in the State the right to enforce the regulation as to the real property.
 
3.  Takings variance.     If the State chooses to grant a takings variance, the regulation causing the regulatory taking may not be applied to the real property upon which a regulatory taking would otherwise occur.
§ 857. Limitations
An action or proceeding may not be brought or maintained under section 853 unless commenced within 3 years after the effective date of the regulation.
§ 858. Informal dispute resolution
 
1.  Commencement of process.     Prior to filing an action pursuant to section 853, a property owner may, in the property owner's discretion, file a request with the appropriate regulator to remedy a claimed regulatory taking. The property owner may include with the request any information the property owner believes relevant, such as an appraisal.
 
2.  Response.     Within 60 days of receipt of a request under subsection 1, the regulator shall respond to the property owner in writing, explaining the regulator's position as to whether the property owner has suffered a regulatory taking.
 
3.  Choice of relief.     If the regulator in the response made pursuant to subsection 2 concludes that there has been a regulatory taking, the regulator shall indicate in the response that the State chooses not to continue to apply the regulation at issue or that either compensation or damages shall indicate that damages be awarded and, if the latter, the amount that the State is willing to provide as compensation or damages.
 
4.  Inadmissibility of request and response.     Neither the property owner's request under subsection 1 nor the regulator's response under subsections 2 and 3 is admissible as evidence proving or refuting liability in an action under section 853 or otherwise binding upon the property owner or regulator.
§ 859. Attorney's fees and costs
In an action brought under section 853, each party is responsible for its own attorney's fees and costs.
§ 860. Land use mediation program
This chapter precludes use of the land use mediation program under Title 5, section 3341.
 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes standards for relief when state regulation takes value from an individual property owner, as well as efficient mechanisms for pursuit of such relief.
To eliminate any fiscal impact from the establishment of these new standards and mechanisms, they will apply only to burdens from regulations enacted in the future. The bill provides mechanisms designed to achieve fair results and to resolve disputes efficiently, including the ability to grant variances, which is an option consistent with general land use principles.