§4301. Purpose The production and marketing of wild blueberries is one of the most important agricultural industries of the State, and this chapter is enacted into law to conserve and promote the prosperity and welfare of this State and of the wild blueberry industry of this State by fostering research and extension programs, by supporting […]
§4302. Definitions The terms used in this chapter shall be construed as follows: 1. Blueberries. [PL 1997, c. 511, §4 (RP).] 1-A. Grower. “Grower” means a person, firm, partnership, association or corporation engaged in the growing of wild blueberries and that is not a “processor” as defined in subsection 2. [PL 1997, c. […]
§4303-A. Additional tax (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1971, c. 425, §1 (NEW). PL 1979, c. 392, §2 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 836, §4 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 29, §3 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 511, §12 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 147, §2 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 331, Pt. C, §24 (RP).
§4303-B. Exemption for wild blueberries grown on tribal land The tax imposed by section 4303 does not apply to wild blueberries grown on tribal land. [PL 2021, c. 681, Pt. F, §3 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 2021, c. 681, Pt. F, §3 (NEW).
§4303. Rate of tax Except as provided in section 4303‑B, there is levied and imposed a tax at the rate of 1 1/2¢ per pound on all wild blueberries processed in the State and on all unprocessed wild blueberries shipped to a destination outside the State. All wild blueberries harvested in the State that are […]
§4304. Due date (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1971, c. 425, §2 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 511, §13 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 331, Pt. C, §25 (RP).
§4305. Certification 1. Certification required. A processor or shipper of wild blueberries shall obtain certification from the assessor before processing or shipping wild blueberries. The assessor shall provide the applications for the certification, which must contain the name under which the processor or shipper is transacting business in the State, the place or places of […]
§4306. Tax deducted from purchase price (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1977, c. 533, §2 (AMD). PL 1979, c. 392, §3 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 836, §5 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 511, §15 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 147, §3 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 331, Pt. C, §27 (RP).
§4307. Records and reports; payment of tax Every processor or shipper responsible for reporting and paying the tax imposed by section 4303 shall, on or before November 1st of each year, report to the State Tax Assessor the quantity of unprocessed wild blueberries that are processed in the State, shipped to a destination outside the […]
§4308. Inspection The State Tax Assessor, the assessor’s duly authorized agents, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the commissioner’s deputies, agents or employees have authority to enter any place of business of any processor or shipper or any car, boat, truck or other conveyance in which wild blueberries are to be or are […]
§4309. Records available on limited basis (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1977, c. 668, §4 (RP).
§4310. False returns; violations; civil action for collection (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1973, c. 6 (AMD). PL 1977, c. 679, §27 (AMD). PL 1981, c. 364, §45 (RP).
§4311-A. Appropriations of money received Money received from the tax levied by section 4303 must be appropriated for the following purposes: [PL 2013, c. 331, Pt. C, §29 (AMD).] 1. Collection and enforcement. The commission shall pay a sum to the State Tax Assessor representing the cost incurred by the State in collection of […]
§4311. Appropriation of moneys received (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1971, c. 425, §4 (AMD). PL 1977, c. 533, §§4,5 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 836, §7 (RP).
§4312-A. Appropriation of moneys received (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1971, c. 425, §5 (NEW). PL 1977, c. 533, §7 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 29, §4 (RP).
§4312-B. Maine Blueberry Commission (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1971, c. 425, §5 (NEW). PL 1977, c. 533, §8 (RPR). PL 1983, c. 812, §272 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 836, §10 (RPR). PL 1985, c. 737, §A100 (RPR). P&SL 1987, c. 130 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 503, §B167 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 331, §2 (AMD). PL […]
§4312-C. Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine 1. Commission established as a public instrumentality. The Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine, as established by Title 5, section 12004‑H, subsection 13‑A and referred to in this section as the “commission,” is established as a public body corporate and politic and an incorporated public instrumentality of the State. The […]
§4312. Advisory committee The University of Maine System Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee, as authorized by Title 5, chapter 379, is appointed by the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine. The committee consists of 7 members who are active in and representative of the wild blueberry industry. The duty of the committee is to advise and work […]
§4313. Tax as additional (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1981, c. 364, §46 (RP).
§4314. Permit required 1. Possession or removal unlawful. It is unlawful for a person to harvest, pick, rake, possess or remove wild blueberries from the land of an owner without first securing written permission from the owner or the owner’s authorized agent. This section does not apply to members of an organized crew, if the […]
