| | | The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall | | vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by | | a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square | | below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, | | sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation | | meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the | | same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The | | Governor shall review the returns and, if a majority of the | | legal votes are cast in favor of this Part, the Governor shall | | proclaim the result without delay, and this Part becomes | | effective 30 days after the date of the proclamation. |
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| | | The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each | | city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of | | this Part necessary to carry out the purposes of this | | referendum. |
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| | | Sec. B-1. 7 MRSA §317, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 763, §1, is | | amended to read: |
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| | | §317. Maine Farms for the Future Program |
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| | | The Maine Farms for the Future Program, referred to in this | | chapter as the "program," is created. The program is | | administered by the department, either directly or by contract | | with a suitable organization. The program provides a selected | | farm with assistance in developing a detailed business plan | | that involves changes in the farm's operation to increase the | | vitality of the farm and investment money to help implement | | the plan. The department shall organize a review panel, | | referred to in this chapter as the "panel," to evaluate and | | approve applications for participation in the program and for | | investment support, including loans made under section 319-A. |
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| | | Sec. B-2. 7 MRSA §319-A is enacted to read: |
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| | | §319-A.__Farms for the Future Loan Fund |
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| | | 1.__Fund established.__The Farms for the Future Loan Fund, | | referred to in this chapter as "the loan fund," is established | | as an Other Special Revenue fund revolving loan account for | | the purposes specified in this chapter.__Loans may be made | | from the loan fund at the prime rate of interest plus 1%. |
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| | | 2.__Sources of loan fund.__The State Controller shall credit | | to the loan fund: |
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