An Act To Ensure That Low-income Residents of the State Have Access to Telephone Services
Sec. 1. 25 MRSA §2927, sub-§1-D, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 400, §8 and affected by §15, is amended to read:
(1) Each residential and business telephone exchange line, including private branch exchange lines and Centrex lines;
(2) Semipublic coin and public access lines;
(3) Customers of interconnected voice over Internet protocol service; and
(4) Customers of cellular or wireless telecommunications service that is not prepaid wireless telecommunications service . A surcharge may not be levied under this subparagraph with respect to customers of cellular or wireless telecommunications service that is supported by federal universal service support funds pursuant to 47 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 54; and
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §7104, sub-§3, ¶D, as amended by PL 2011, c. 623, Pt. B, §14, is further amended to read:
Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §7104, sub-§3, ¶G, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 623, Pt. B, §14, is amended to read:
Sec. 4. 35-A MRSA §7104, sub-§3, ¶H is enacted to read:
Sec. 5. 35-A MRSA §7104-B, sub-§3, ¶¶C and D, as amended by PL 2017, c. 244, §3, are further amended to read:
Sec. 6. 35-A MRSA §7104-B, sub-§3, ¶F is enacted to read:
Sec. 7. 36 MRSA §1752, sub-§14, ¶B, as repealed and replaced by PL 2015, c. 494, Pt. A, §44, is amended to read:
(1) Discounts allowed and taken on sales;
(2) Allowances in cash or by credit made upon the return of merchandise pursuant to warranty;
(3) The price of property returned by customers, when the full price is refunded either in cash or by credit;
(4) The price received for labor or services used in installing or applying or repairing the property sold, if separately charged or stated;
(5) Any amount charged or collected, in lieu of a gratuity or tip, as a specifically stated service charge, when that amount is to be disbursed by a hotel, restaurant or other eating establishment to its employees as wages;
(6) The amount of any tax imposed by the United States on or with respect to retail sales, whether imposed upon the retailer or the consumer, except any manufacturers', importers', alcohol or tobacco excise tax;
(7) The cost of transportation from the retailer's place of business or other point from which shipment is made directly to the purchaser, provided that those charges are separately stated and the transportation occurs by means of common carrier, contract carrier or the United States mail;
(8) Any amount charged or collected by a person engaged in the rental of living quarters as a forfeited room deposit or cancellation fee if the prospective occupant of the living quarters cancels the reservation on or before the scheduled date of arrival;
(9) Any amount charged for the disposal of used tires;
(10) Any amount charged for a paper or plastic single-use carry-out bag; or
(11) Any charge, deposit, fee or premium imposed by a law of this State . ; or
(12) Federal universal service support funds that are paid directly to the seller pursuant to 47 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 54.
Sec. 8. 36 MRSA §2551, sub-§15, ¶D, as amended by PL 2007, c. 438, §54, is further amended to read:
Sec. 9. 36 MRSA §2551, sub-§15, ¶E, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 438, §54, is amended to read:
Sec. 10. 36 MRSA §2551, sub-§15, ¶F is enacted to read:
Sec. 11. Commission may adjust fee. Notwithstanding the prohibitions under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 7104, subsection 3-A and Title 35-A, section 7104-B, subsection 2-A on the Public Utilities Commission's adjusting the prepaid wireless telecommunications service fee more than once every 24 months, the Public Utilities Commission may adjust the prepaid wireless telecommunications service fee if needed to conform to this Act.
Sec. 12. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2019.