Whereas, the producer price of milk has dropped to 20-year lows; and

Whereas, these prices jeopardize the viability of the Maine dairy industry; and

Whereas, the Maine dairy industry is essential to the State's rural economy and communities and generates business activity and preserves open space; and

Whereas, the stabilization of the dairy industry during temporary price drops constitutes a public purpose and an appropriate expenditure of state revenues; 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:

Sec. 1. 10 MRSA §1023-J, first ¶, as repealed and replaced by PL 2001, c. 471, Pt. A, §12, is amended to read:

The Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund, referred to in this section as the "fund," is created. The fund must be deposited with and maintained by the Finance Authority of Maine. The fund must be administered by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources in accordance with Title 7, chapter 101, subchapter I-D 1-D. All money received by the Finance Authority of Maine from any source for the development and implementation of an improved agricultural marketing loan program must be credited to the fund. Any money credited to the fund from the issuance of bonds on behalf of the State for financing loans for agricultural enterprises may be used only for the following purposes: to provide assistance to agricultural enterprises in this State for the design, construction or improvement of commodity and storage buildings and packing and marketing facilities; for the purchase, construction or renovation of buildings, equipment, docks, wharves, piers or vessels used in connection with a commercial agricultural enterprise; for the purchase of land in connection with development of new cranberry acreage; for the purchase of land for irrigation reservoirs or to provide direct access to water for irrigation; for the purchase of land necessary for the start-up of a new agricultural