Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0321
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: MILLS

Legislative Document 
No. 321 
H.P.264 
House of Representatives, January 28,2003 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Provide for Protected Reserve Funds 
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative MILLS of Cornville. 
Printed on recycled paper 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Constitutional amendment. 
Resolved: 
Two 
thirds 
branch 
of 
the 
Legislature 
concurring, 
that 
the 
amendment to the Constitution of Maine be proposed: 
Constitution, Art. IX, §14-E is enacted to read: 
of 
each 
following 
Section 14-E. 
Reserve funds. 
The Legislature may create 
reserve funds to provide for capital improvements, 
to fulfill 
long-range 
goals 
or 
to 
meet 
fiscal 
contingencies 
of 
State 
Government. 
When carried over from one Legislature to another, a 
reserve fund protected by this section may not be spent for any 
purpose other than that for which the fund was expressly created 
unless such later purpose is approved by a vote of 3/5 of both 
Houses. 
; and be it further 
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective 
date. Resolved: 
That the municipal officers of this State shall 
notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, 
towns 
and 
plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding 
a statewide election, at a statewide election, on the Tuesday 
following the first Monday of November following the passage of 
this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment 
proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question: 
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to allow 
for the creation of reserve funds to be used for capital 
improvements, long-range goals or fiscal contingencies and 
to prohibit spending the 
reserve funds 
for 
any purpose 
unless approved by a vote of 3/5 of the Legislature?" 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall 
vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a 
cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square below 
the word "Yes" or "No." 
The ballots must be received, sorted, 
counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings 
and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as 
votes for members of the Legislature. 
The Governor shall review 
the returns and, if it appears that a majority of the legal votes 
are cast in favor of the amendment, the Governor shall proclaim 
that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of the 
Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation; and be it 
further 
Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: 
That 
the 
Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town 
and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this resolution 
necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum. 
Page l-LR0842(1) 
SUMMARY 
This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine 
to allow the Legislature to create reserve funds to be used for 
capital improvements, 
long-range goals or fiscal contingencies 
and to prohibit spending the reserve funds for any purpose unless 
approved by a vote of 3/5 of the Legislature.