F. Must end prior to June 30, 2003 if the assessment generates revenues of $983,000 before that date. The State Tax Assessor shall immediately notify carriers of the termination of the assessment.

2. Credit. Beginning July 1, 2003, every fire insurance company or association that does business or collects premiums or assessments in the State that paid the special assessment in section 1 after July 1, 2002 may take a credit against its premium tax owed under Title 36, chapter 357 equal to the special assessment paid in the same month the previous year.

Sec. 2. Fund. The State Tax Assessor shall pay over all receipts from the special assessment to the Treasurer of State daily. The Treasurer of State shall deposit all special assessments collected pursuant to this section into a separate nonlapsing fund of which 75.7% must be used to defray the expenses incurred by the Commissioner of Public Safety in administering all fire preventative and investigative laws and rules and in educating the public in fire safety and to carry out the administration and duties of the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Of the funds, 24.3% must be used to defray the expenses of the Maine Fire Training and Education Program established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 319. The Department of Public Safety may apply for any available grants and accept any gifts, grants or donations to assist in developing and maintaining the fund.

Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF

Office of the State Fire Marshal

Initiative: Allocates funds for additional salary and operating costs.

Other Special Revenue Funds 2001-02 2002-03

Personal Services $0 $375,011

All Other 0 228,630

Capital Expenditures 0 140,500

________

Total $0 $744,141

PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF

DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2001-02 2002-03

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS $0 $744,141

________

DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $0 $744,141

TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM,

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE

Board of Trustees of the Maine

Technical College System

Initiative: Allocates funds for the Maine Fire Training and Education program.

Other Special Revenue Funds 2001-02 2002-03

All Other $0 $238,859

________

Total $0 $238,859

TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM,

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE

DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2001-02 2002-03

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS $0 $238,859

________

DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $0 $238,859

SECTION TOTALS 2001-02 2002-03

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS $0 $983,000

________

SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $0 $983,000

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

FISCAL NOTE

2002-03

APPROPRIATIONS/ALLOCATIONS

Other Funds $983,000

REVENUES

Other Funds $983,000

The establishment of a one-year special assessment to be collected from policyholders of insured fire risks will increase fee collections. The estimated increase of dedicated revenue to the Office of the State Fire Marshal is $744,131 in fiscal year 2002-03. The estimated increase of dedicated revenue from this same assessment to the Maine Fire Training and Education Program within the Maine Technical College System is $238,859 in fiscal year 2002-03.

The establishment of a credit against premium taxes for payment of the special assessment fee will result in the one-time loss of General Fund revenues in the amount of $983,000 in fiscal year 2003-04.

This bill includes an Other Special Revenue funds allocation of $744,131 in fiscal year 2002-03 for the Office of the State Fire Marshal within the Department of Public Safety to cover additional salary and operating costs.

This bill also includes an Other Special Revenue funds allocation of $238,859 in fiscal year 2002-03 to the Maine Technical College System for the Maine Fire Training and Education Program.

SUMMARY

This emergency bill provides funds for the operation of the Office of the State Fire Marshal and for the Maine Fire Training and Education Program. The bill establishes a one-year special assessment to be collected from carriers insuring fire risks located in the State. This special assessment is designed to provide operating revenues for the Office of the State Fire Marshal and funds for the Maine Fire Training and Education Program for fiscal year 2002-03. This bill includes a fiscal note.