Whereas, the 119th Legislature originally established the Commission to Study the Needs and Opportunities Associated with the Production of Salmonid Sport Fish in Maine in Resolve 1999, chapter 82; and

Whereas, the 119th Legislature appropriated $500,000 to be spent over the current biennium for engineering design for the Embden Hatchery and a statewide assessment of all other hatchery facilities; and

Whereas, authorization of this commission for an additional 2- year period is essential to complete the original duties assigned to the commission and to provide ongoing legislative policy guidance on the expenditures of those funds appropriated for engineering design for the Embden Hatchery and a statewide assessment of all other hatchery facilities; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

PART A

Sec. A-1. 12 MRSA §7671-A is enacted to read:

§7671-A.__Fish hatchery maintenance fund

The fish hatchery maintenance fund, referred to in this section as the "fund," is established in the department as a nonlapsing fund to be used by the commissioner to fund or assist in funding maintenance, repair and capital improvements at fish hatcheries and feeding stations owned by the State.__The fund may not be used to fund personnel services costs or general operating costs of a fish hatchery.__The commissioner may accept and deposit into the fund any monetary gifts, donations or other contributions from public or private sources and must use that money for the purposes specified in this section.

Sec. A-2. Report. The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife no later than January 15, 2002 with recommendations on sources of revenues for the fish hatchery