LD 1572
pg. 2
Page 1 of 7 An Act To Amend the Potato Industry Licensing Laws Page 3 of 7
Download Bill Text
LR 545
Item 1

 
In order to insure the licensee's financial responsibility and
to protect potato and rotation crop producers, the commissioner
shall require the licensee to file a bond as a prerequisite to
the issuance of a license.__The bond must be in a form and amount
satisfactory to the commissioner, but not less than $50,000 nor
more than $300,000 in the case of dealers and brokers engaged in
buying or selling either potatoes or rotation crops, but not
both, not less than $50,000 nor more than $400,000 in the case of
dealers and brokers engaged in buying and selling both potatoes
and rotation crops, or not less than $100,000 nor more than
$500,000 in the case of processors, payable to the commissioner
in the commissioner's official capacity and conditioned on the
full and prompt payment for all potatoes or rotation crops
received or purchased from producers or other licensees during
the effective period of the license. In the case of processors,
the amount of bond required must be based on the licensee's
anticipated monthly volume of purchases, but may be adjusted to
reflect other federal escrow accounts or bond requirements met by
the licensee that satisfy the purposes of this section.

 
Each license shall must plainly state the name and business
address or addresses of the licensee and shall must be posted in
a conspicuous place in each office where the business is
transacted. The initial fee for each license shall be $80 is $100
annually. Such license shall may be automatically renewed for
successive periods of one year each upon payment of the renewal
fee which shall be $80 and the submission of proof of financial
responsibility. A license or license renewal issued expires on
the 30th day of June following the date of issuance.__The
department is not required to provide notice and opportunity for
a hearing as provided in the Maine Administrative Procedure Act
for license renewals. If the licensee desires to carry on
business in more than one place within the State, he the licensee
shall procure additional copies of the license, certified by the
commissioner, for each place where the business is to be
conducted. The fee for each such additional certification shall
be $80 is $100. In the event a person required to be licensed
under this section fails to renew that person's license or submit
the annual proof of financial responsibility, the department
shall promptly provide notice to members of the potato producing
industry through the Maine Potato Board and an agricultural
bargaining council.

 
All fees collected under this Article shall must be paid
forthwith to the Treasurer of State and credited to the
Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources for the
administration of this Article and other expenses incident to the
administration of said the department, and shall must be expended
by the said commissioner for the purposes for which said the


Page 1 of 7 Top of Page Page 3 of 7