Doran Continued from Page 156 which will effectively substantiate what is in this bill. The <strong>PLC</strong> agreed and will work with Director Cormier to ensure this policy development takes place. LD 1156, An Act To Create the Small Business Savings Account Program. This bill, which was a <strong>PLC</strong> priority, establishes a Savings Account Program for Small Businesses which would allow small businesses to make pretax contributions to qualifying savings accounts. The bill also establishes that withdrawals from the savings accounts are taxable when utilized for the business. The <strong>PLC</strong> testified in support of this legislation and worked with the bill sponsor and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development on a revised version of the bill during the session. The bill sponsor presented what he thought was a final version to the committee, but Maine Revenue Services still found issues with the bill that they wanted rectified before moving forward. Since it was so late in the session, the committee voted to carry the bill over to 2020 and move forward with it next year in final form. LD 1498, An Act To Provide Equity for Commercial Vehicles on Roads and Bridges in Maine. A <strong>PLC</strong> priority bill this session, current law allows certain commercial vehicles at Canadian weight limits that are higher than those in this State to travel from the United States -Canada border to certain points in this State. The <strong>PLC</strong> testified in favor of the bill and also told the Committee that if they are not interested in increasing gross and axle weights, that they should eliminate the higher weight tolerances on three bridges for Canadian trucks. The Committee carried the bill over to next session and asked the Maine Dept. of Transportation to conduct an economic impact study this fall on the current exemption. The study will review how the exemption is hurting Maine loggers and truckers, what getting rid of the exemption would do to the mills that benefit and how are heavier weights impacting the roads and bridges. LD 1540, An Act Concerning Timber Harvesting on Public Lands and in State Parks, Historic Sites and the Restricted Zone of the Allagash. A <strong>PLC</strong> priority this session, this bill amends and enacts provisions regarding the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands' management of timber harvesting on state property under its jurisdiction, including: 1. requiring the bureau to report on the State's actual and potential forest inventory status and needs, including the need for a sawmill or other forest products processing facility to be located in the state; 2. requiring contractors harvesting timber at state parks to be established businesses in the state, requiring contractors to be Master Logger certified, requiring contractors to own 50% of their own equipment to be used on the job, requiring contractors to have workers’ compensation insurance, and requiring all timber to be purchased by the contractor under a stumpage sale instead of service contracts; and 3. requiring forest products harvested, unless used by the state parks, to be sold to a sawmill or other forest products processing or manufacturing facility located in the State to be processed or manufactured at the facility. The <strong>PLC</strong> testified in favor of the bill because it believes strongly that contractors should benefit from harvesting on public lands and Master Loggers should be recognized for their work. Similar to LD 1301, Commissioner Beal from the Dept. of ACF asked the <strong>PLC</strong> to eliminate this bill for the time being to allow the new Director of Parks and Lands to investigate these issues and determine the best path forward to assist with these issues. The <strong>PLC</strong> agreed and will work with Director Cutko to ensure this policy development takes place. In summary, this was a long and arduous legislative session as there were over 1,800 bills printed and heard in front of committees. As a result, there was a lot of work for the <strong>PLC</strong> to push forward initiatives that could help our industry and push back upon those that would not. However, at the end of the day, the session could have been a lot worse in terms of raising the cost of doing business and hurting this industry for the long run. There were also a lot of bills that will help raise the bar for this industry and the rightful place of loggers and truckers in Maine was not only protected but was expanded as a result of the work that the <strong>PLC</strong> does in Augusta. Being in the middle in Augusta can have its challenges, but it is exactly where the <strong>PLC</strong> needs to be. Have a great summer and please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions on what transpired this session or what is on the horizon. Dana. 16 Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995
The Logger’s <strong>Voice</strong> ▪ <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2019</strong> 17
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