129th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 248		LR 109(02)
	An Act To Increase the Handling Fee for Beverage Containers Reimbursed to Redemption Centers
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2019-20	FY 2020-21	Projections  FY 2021-22	Projections  FY 2022-23
Appropriations/Allocations
	State Alcoholic Beverage Fund		$19,044	$181,414	$271,180	$296,747
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill would increase the cost of handling reimbursement paid per returned beverage container by the initiator of deposit to dealers and local redemption centers under the state bottle redemption program by half a cent beginning May 1, 2019 and by another half a cent beginning January 1, 2020.  Since the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations (BABLO) functions as the initiator of deposit for all spirits sold in Maine, the increase in reimbursement would require an additional allocation from the Alcoholic Beverages Fund of $19,044 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $181,414 in fiscal year 2020-21.  Because the bottle redemption program and any payments required by the initiator of deposit is included in the spirits administration contract with Pine State Trading Company, this change will require the contract to be renegotiated.
	It is anticipated that the Alcoholic Beverages Fund will have sufficient revenue to fund the additional allocation for the foreseeable future. However, additional expenditures from the fund may put required future payments to the Maine Municipal Bond Bank at risk.