To fund the board and to pay the start-up expenses of administration and enforcement of this chapter, there is established the Maine Motor Vehicle Franchise Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund."__The board shall impose an initial fee upon each new motor vehicle dealer of $200 for each dealer's license held by that dealer and an initial fee of $2,000 for each line make of each manufacturer.__The board shall determine on an annual basis whether additional funding is required.__The board shall maintain a fund balance of at least $20,000.

The fund is administered by the Secretary of State.__The fund must be used exclusively for the administration and operation of the board for the enforcement of this chapter.__ Expenses for operation of the board, including the compensation for the chair, which must be 1/2 the salary of the Bureau of Motor Vehicle's attorney assigned to the board, must be paid by the board to the Secretary of State on a quarterly basis.

§1188.__Duties

The board:

1.__Complaints.__Shall review written complaints filed with the board by persons complaining of conduct governed by this chapter;

2.__Decision.__Shall issue written decisions and may issue orders to a franchisee in violation of this chapter;

3.__Penalty.__May levy a civil penalty pursuant to section 1171-B, subsection 3;

4.__Award costs.__Shall award costs and attorney's fees pursuant to section 1173;

5.__Interim order.__Shall levy a civil penalty pursuant to section 1171-B, subsection 3 when a party to a complaint under this subchapter is found to have recklessly or knowingly failed, neglected or refused to comply with an interim order issued by the board; and

6.__Procedures.__May appoint persons to be present at the deposition of out-of-state witnesses, administer oaths, issue subpoenas to compel the presence of witnesses or documents and authorize stenographic or recorded transcripts of proceedings.

§1188-A.__Prehearing conference