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Public Law
124th Legislature
Second Regular Session
Chapter 481
H.P. 1107 - L.D. 1570
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the We Support Our Troops Registration Plates
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.   5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§84-A,  as enacted by PL 2007, c. 229, §1, is amended to read:
 
84-A.    
Transportation: Motor Vehicles	 	We Support Our Troops Advisory Board	 	Not Authorized	 	29-A MRSA §456-D 37-B MRSA §158	
 
Sec. 2.   29-A MRSA §456-D, sub-§2, ¶A,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 703, §7, is amended to read:
 
A. Ten dollars to the Maine National Guard Foundation Fund Special Revenue Funds account in the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, referred to in this section as “the fund,” for use in accordance with subsection 7 Military Family Relief Fund as established in Title 37-B, section 158;
Sec. 3.   29-A MRSA §456-D, sub-§3, ¶A,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 703, §7, is amended to read:
 
A. Ten dollars to the fund for use in accordance with subsection 7 Maine Military Family Relief Fund as established in Title 37-B, section 158;
Sec. 4.   29-A MRSA §456-D, sub-§7,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 703, §7, is amended to read:
 
7. Administration of fees.    On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shall transfer the revenue from the issuance and renewal of the We Support Our Troops plates to the Treasurer of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 2 and 3.
 
The Treasurer of State shall reimburse the sponsor $20,000 of the original payment from the Highway Fund after the issuance of the first 2,000 registration plates under this section.
 
Revenue in the fund must be used to provide financial assistance to members of the Maine National Guard, residents of the State who are members of the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States and the families of those members of the Maine National Guard or Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States for emergencies and other special needs as determined by the We Support Our Troops Advisory Board established in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 84-A.
Sec. 5.   29-A MRSA §456-D, sub-§8,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 703, §7, is repealed.
Sec. 6.   37-B MRSA §158,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 703, §2, is amended to read:
§ 158.  Maine Military Family Relief Fund
The Maine Military Family Relief Fund, referred to in this section as “the fund,” is established as a nonlapsing fund in the department administered according to rules adopted by the Adjutant General. The Except as provided in subsection 1, the Adjutant General is authorized to make award loans and grants from the Maine Military Family Relief Fund fund for emergencies and other special needs to members or families of persons who are members of the Maine National Guard or residents of the State who are members or families of members of the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States who have been called to military duty and to distribute funds to a statewide nonprofit organization established for the purpose of providing assistance to members or families of members of the Maine National Guard or residents of the State who are members or families of members of the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States. The Military Bureau shall adopt rules establishing eligibility criteria for the loans and grants. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
1.  We Support Our Troops Advisory Board.      The We Support Our Troops Advisory Board, as established by Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 84-A and referred to in this subsection as “the board,” shall determine the use of the revenue in the fund that is attributable to the issuance and renewal of the We Support Our Troops registration plates established in Title 29-A, section 456-D. The board consists of 9 members:
 
 A.  Eight members appointed by the Governor, in consultation with the Adjutant General:
 
(1) Two persons, each representing the interests of the Maine National Guard;
 
(2) Two persons, each representing the interests of Maine residents in the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States; and
 
(3) Four persons representing the interests of the public; and
 
 B.  The Adjutant General.
 
The Adjutant General serves during the Adjutant General’s term of office. The terms of members appointed under paragraph A are for 3 years. Members may be reappointed for subsequent terms. A vacancy must be filled in the same manner as an original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.
 
The board shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters by June 30th of each year. The report must provide a detailed account of funds for each fiscal year and include the number of loans and grants awarded, the names of those who received loans and grants, a description of the process for awarding loans and grants and the total amount of loan and grant money awarded.
Sec. 7.  Transition. Notwithstanding the appointment provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 37-B, section 158, subsection 1, the members of the We Support Our Troops Advisory Board on June 30, 2010 under former Title 29-A, section 456-D, subsection 8 continue to serve on the board for the balance of their terms of office.
 
Effective July 12, 2010