Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6136 is enacted to read:

§6136.__Maine Coast Environmental Trust Fund

1.__Creation of trust fund.__There is established the Maine Coast Environmental Trust Fund, referred to in this section as "the trust."

2.__Purpose of trust.__The purpose of the trust is to protect and improve the quality of the State's marine environment by providing grants to qualifying organizations for activities to advance scientific research concerning the nature, magnitude and effect of pollution of the State's estuarine, near-shore and off- shore marine environments and the means to abate pollution or preserve and enhance estuarine, near-shore and off-shore marine habitats.

3.__Sources for trust.__Money obtained from the following sources must be paid to the Treasurer of State for the benefit of the trust:

A.__Gifts, bequests and donations to the trust from private individuals or corporations desiring to protect and improve the marine environment through applied research;

B.__Grants to the trust from private or public foundations desiring to protect and improve the marine environment through applied and basic research;

C.__Funds stipulated for deposit in the trust as part of the terms of settlement of legal actions against corporations, partnerships or individuals for violations of environmental laws, rules or regulations;

D.__Funds for research received under any federal oil spill trust fund;

E.__Revenues that may be from time to time realized through public bond issues; and

F.__Federal grants and loans.

4.__Use and administration of trust.__Trust funds must be used to provide grants to meet the purposes of this section.__The department shall administer the trust as follows.

A.__Unless otherwise specified by the source of a contribution to the trust, 50% of a contribution to the