Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §2951, sub-§§9-A and 9-B are enacted to read:

9-A. Rate of return.__"Rate of return" in connection with retail sales means the profit to the retail store per unit of milk sold expressed as a percent of the retail unit price.__ The rate of return for a retail sale is calculated by subtracting the sum of the unit price paid by the retail store to the dealer and the retail margin from the retail price, dividing this number by the retail price and multiplying by 100 to express rate as a percent.

9-B. Retail margin.__"Retail margin" means the minimum amount that a retail store must add to the cost of a container of milk to cover the retailer's direct and indirect costs associated with making a container of milk available for retail sale.

Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §2953, sub-§4-A is enacted to read:

4-A. Retail margin, rate of return.__As to the cost of milk to a retail store as defined in section 2985, the retail margin and a just and reasonable rate of return to the retail store for the sale of milk; and

Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §2954-D is enacted to read:

§2954-D.__Maximum rate of return allowed retail stores

1. Establishment of maximum allowed rate of return.__The commission shall establish a maximum allowed rate of return to a retail store for the sale of milk.__The maximum allowed rate of return may not be less than the rate of return considered just and reasonable for establishing minimum retail prices under section 2954.__The commission shall calculate and apply the maximum allowed rate of return on a per-unit basis.

2. Publication of rate and prices.__The commission shall publish the maximum allowed rate of return together with minimum retail prices whenever the maximum allowed rate of return or a minimum retail price changes.

3. Records.__The owner or manager of a retail store shall keep records of prices paid to dealers and prices charged to consumers for milk offered for sale at that owner's or manager's retail store.__The records must include:

A.__The total quantity of each consumer unit purchased from each dealer and the address of each dealer supplying milk to the retail store;