An Act To Support Farm Programs at Department of Corrections Facilities
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 34-A MRSA §1403, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 724, is amended to read:
7. Establishment of farm programs and gravel mining programs to support farm programs at correctional facilities. The commissioner may establish a farm program at each correctional facility for the purposes of producing agricultural and farm products and teaching prisoners and juvenile clients cultivation and gardening techniques. The commissioner may also establish a gravel mining program at any correctional facility sited on land that contains sufficient gravel for the purpose of supporting the farm programs.
A. Products from those farm programs shall under this subsection must be used by correctional facilities. If a surplus exists, it may be:
(1) Sold or distributed to other state, county or local governmental entities;
(2) Exchanged with other state, county or local governmental entities for services or other goods; or
(3) Sold to or exchanged with private Maine businesses . ; or
(4) Sold to or exchanged with community agencies as defined in section 1206, subsection 1.
B. The revenue generated by the sale of those farm products shall under this subsection must be deposited in a special account. This account shall does not lapse at the end of a fiscal year but may must be carried forward from year to year. If the amount in the fund exceeds $100,000, the excess in the account shall be transferred to the General Fund.
C. These The funds in this the special account under paragraph B may be expended to implement and maintain farm programs in correctional facilities. These expenditures include, but are not limited to, the purchase of necessary materials and equipment, construction, administrative costs and employee salaries.
D. The commissioner may establish, for the purpose of supporting farm programs at correctional facilities by generating additional revenue for the special account under paragraph B, a gravel mining program at any correctional facility sited on land that contains sufficient gravel. The commissioner shall determine the amount of gravel to be mined. Gravel not used by correctional facilities may be sold, distributed or exchanged in the same manner as farm products pursuant to paragraph A. In addition to the expenditures allowed by paragraph C, the revenue generated from a gravel mining program may be expended to implement and maintain gravel mining programs in correctional facilities.
Sec. 2. 34-A MRSA §1403, sub-§9, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 821, §21, is amended to read:
A. The program may make services and goods available for use by correctional facilities or for purchase by other state , county or local governmental entities, private businesses in the State, community agencies , as defined in section 1206, subsection 1, or the public.
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 125th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.