2. State, municipalities and counties to recover for expenditures for removal. Any person who permits, causes or is responsible for a prohibited discharge shall reimburse the State and, municipalities and counties for all costs incurred, including personnel costs, in removing the discharge, including costs for ensuring public safety. Funds recovered under this section must be deposited to the account from which they were expended. Requests from the State for reimbursement, if not paid within 30 days of demand, may be turned over to the Attorney General for collection or may be submitted to a collection agency or agent or an attorney retained by the department with the approval of the Attorney General pursuant to Title 5, section 191, or, for municipal or county cost, to the District Attorney for collection.

In any suit to enforce claims of the State or, a municipality or county under this section, it is not necessary for the State or a, municipality or county to plead or prove negligence in any form or manner on the part of the person causing, permitting or responsible for the discharge. The State or, municipality or county need only plead and prove the fact of the prohibited discharge and that the discharge occurred while the hazardous matter was in the custody or control of the person causing, permitting or responsible for the discharge.

SUMMARY

This bill defines the term "county official" for the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, Part 1. It repeals certain provisions of law relating to the county budget process and the provision of law that gives county commissioners the power to borrow in anticipation of taxes. It corrects cross- references to these repealed provisions of law. It also permits a county to recover for expenditures for the removal of certain discharges from the person responsible for those discharges.