There is established the Returnable Tobacco Products Fund to receive funds from the payment of deposits on returnable tobacco products, to pay out funds on the redemption of returnable tobacco products and to hold funds not required for either of those 2 purposes.__The fund is a nonlapsing dedicated fund.__ Interest accruing to the fund remains in the fund.

§1885.__Administrative provisions

1.__Administration.__The department shall administer this chapter.

2.__Rulemaking.__The commissioner shall, in a manner consistent with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, after investigation, adopt and promulgate rules to implement this chapter.__The rules must establish sanitary regulations for the handling of returnable tobacco products, including sanitary conditions of persons in direct contact with the returnable tobacco products.__The rules must establish standards of identity and composition, including minimum standards of composition, for the proper enforcement of this chapter and for the protection of the public health and welfare.__The rules must specify the responsibilities of manufacturers, distributors and retailers of cigarettes and the process by which deposits and refunds are paid. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined by Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes a system of deposit and redemption for used and discarded cigarette butts, referred to as returnable tobacco products, and creates the Returnable Tobacco Products Fund, a dedicated fund for use in the payment of deposits and redemptions and to hold funds not required for either purpose.