Key measures passed by the Legislature this session

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A sampling of the new laws enacted by the Maine Legislature during its 2002 session:

Environment

. Sale of mercury thermostats used in residential and commercial buildings ends in 2006.

. Automobile manufacturers must set up a system to collect mercury switches from cars when they are junked.

. Users of large volumes of water must report how much water they take from natural supplies.

Health

. Lower group health insurance costs negotiated for small businesses and self-employed.

. A state-administered group insurance purchasing pool will negotiate and contract annually with multiple insurance carriers to offer health insurance options to eligible enrollees.

. More elderly and disabled Mainers qualify for prescription drug assistance, and more drugs covered.

Highways

. Children 40 to 80 pounds and less than 8 years old must be secured in car booster seats.

. Children under 12 or under 100 pounds must sit in the back seat of their car.

. Gas taxes rise with inflation unless future legislatures prevent it.

. Motorists get can get license plates decorated with images of lobsters or Maine black bears.

. Driver’s license revocations for habitual offenders will increase from one year to three years.

Outdoors

. Some hunting, ATV and other outdoor sporting fees rise.

. Turkey hunting permits for landowners who keep their properties open to hunters.

. $500 fines for spotting aerial big-game hunting.

. Owners of snowmobiles and motorboats that sink in state waterways must pay to remove them.

. “Water skipping” by snowmobiles outlawed on public waterways.

Odds and ends

. People who have served time for drug-related felonies and are recovering from substance abuse can’t be denied food stamps or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families if they qualify.

. Funeral directors get legal means to dispose of cremated remains that are not retrieved by families.

Public safety

. Legal procedures adopted for safely abandoning a baby.

. Procedures to legally solicit funds for police adopted.

. Domestic abuse, stalking victims get secure mailing addresses.