6. The authority may establish prudent terms and conditions for the loan, including a first lien on the Millinocket and East Millinocket mills BETR reimbursement.

Sec. 3. Source of fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the loan described in section 2 may be made by the authority out of the Economic Recovery Program Fund established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 10, section 1023-I.

Sec. 4. Payment of BETR claims. Notwithstanding any provision of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, chapter 915 to the contrary, the acquiring business is entitled to receive reimbursement under BETR of all property taxes assessed against Great Northern for 2002-03 and the subsequent property tax years that qualify for reimbursement under BETR, as long as such taxes are paid and were not previously reimbursed, regardless of whether the taxes are paid by Great Northern or the acquiring business.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, chapter 915 to the contrary, the acquiring business may file a reimbursement claim and receive reimbursement under BETR with respect to property tax payments made to the towns of Millinocket and East Millinocket in 2003 for the 2002-03 property tax year, but which payments were due from Great Northern to the towns of Millinocket and East Millinocket in 2002, as if the payments had been made in 2002.

Any BETR reimbursement made to the acquiring business must exclude any costs or interest associated with late payment of tax. Unless a provision of this Act provides otherwise, the provisions of the Title 36, chapter 915 apply to any reimbursement made to the acquiring business, including, but not limited to Title 36, sections 6657 and 6658.

With respect to the Millinocket and East Millinocket mills BETR reimbursement claim, in no event may more than one person receive reimbursement for the same property tax payment.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

Great Northern Paper, Inc., which is in bankruptcy, has not paid property taxes in the amount of $4.4 million to Millinocket and $3.4 million to East Millinocket for the 2002-03 property tax