Bill > LD1659

This bill establishes a new Electric Vehicle Firefighting Fund to help fire departments purchase specialized equipment and receive training for handling electric vehicle fires. The fund will be administered by a commission that will develop criteria and award grants to fire departments. To finance the fund, the bill imposes a $250 fee on the sale of new and used battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles by dealers in the state. The Secretary of State will collect this fee monthly on behalf of the State Tax Assessor and deposit the revenue directly into the Electric Vehicle Firefighting Fund. The need for such a fund stems from the unique challenges electric vehicle fires pose, which require different firefighting techniques and equipment compared to traditional vehicle fires. By creating this dedicated funding mechanism, the bill aims to ensure that local fire departments have the resources they need to effectively respond to potentially complex and hazardous electric vehicle fire incidents. The bill specifies that the commission can adopt routine technical rules to implement the grant program, providing flexibility in how the funds are distributed.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1659&snum=132