Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §652, sub-§1, śL, as enacted by PL 1977, c. 487, is repealed.

Sec. 2. 36 MRSA §652-A is enacted to read:

§652-A.__Direct benefit service charges

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 651 and 652, and pursuant to the provisions and limitations in this section, a municipality may impose a charge for direct benefit services provided to an otherwise tax-exempt property of a public or private institution or organization, as described in sections 651 and 652 and referred to in this section as the "tax-exempt entity," for direct benefit services provided to the tax- exempt entity by the municipality.__For purposes of this section, "tax-exempt entity" includes any identifiable subunit of that entity.

1.__Discretionary imposition.__The imposition of direct benefit service charges under this section is not mandatory, but is at the discretion of the municipality in which the tax- exempt property is located. The municipal legislative body shall determine the scope of any charge system imposed; these charges may not exceed limitations outlined in this section, but they may be narrower in scope than this section specifically allows, reaching only some, but not all direct benefit services provided by the municipality.__They may exempt classes of property nominally subject to charges as provided by this section. If a municipality levies service charges on any classification of property as defined in this section, that municipality shall levy those service charges on all tax-exempt entities in that classification.

2.__Chargeable services.__The only direct benefit services of a municipality for which a system of charges may be imposed pursuant to this section are:

A.__Fire protection services, which may include a medical crisis unit and E-9-1-1 system;

B.__Police protection services, which may include a medical crisis unit and E-9-1-1 system;

C.__Water and sewer services which may include fresh water treatment, wastewater cleanup, pollution control and hydrant services;

D.__Trash collection, storage and disposal services; and