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Public Law
124th Legislature
Second Regular Session
Chapter 471
H.P. 997 - L.D. 1421
An Act To Ensure the Perpetual Care of Maine Veterans’ Cemeteries
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.   37-B MRSA §512  is enacted to read:
§ 512.   Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery System Care Fund
 
1.  Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery System Care Fund establishment; purpose.      The Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery System Care Fund, known in this section as “the fund,” is established for the purpose of ensuring ongoing care and maintenance of veterans’ graves within the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery System after plot interment allowances for burials within the system are no longer received from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The fund is established from deposits of 1/3 of the funds received from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for plot interment allowances. The fund may also accept private and public donations. The fund is separate from other perpetual care or cemetery maintenance funds that support veterans’ cemeteries and were established prior to the effective date of this section.
Sec. 2.  Expenditures prohibited. An expenditure or promise of payment may not be made from the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery System Care Fund established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 37-B, section 512 prior to the enactment of guidelines in statute that govern the investment of revenue, interest or principal from the fund and criteria by which expenditures for perpetual care are established.
Sec. 3.  Director of Bureau of Maine Veterans’ Services to report on future investment plan. The Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans’ Services within the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management shall consult with the Treasurer of State to develop an investment plan for the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery System Care Fund established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 37-B, section 512 that provides appropriate guidelines for investment and expenditures from the fund. The director shall submit the report and any suggested legislation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over veterans’ cemeteries no later than February 15, 2011. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over veterans’ cemeteries is authorized to submit a bill to the First Regular Session of the 125th Legislature based on the report.
Sec. 4.  Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Veterans Services 0110
 
Initiative: Establishes the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery System Care Fund and provides a base allocation.
 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2009-10	2010-11	
All Other
	$0	$500	
 	 	 	
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$0	$500	

Effective July 12, 2010