An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue in the Amount of $15,000,000 for Energy Conservation in State Buildings and Facilities
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1089
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: HALL, BLISS, PresideIlt DAGGETT, GAGNON

Legislative Document 
No. 1089 
S.P.361 
In Senate, March 4, 2003 
An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue in the Amount of 
$15,000,000 for Energy Conservation in State Buildings and 
Facilities 
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Senator HALL of Lincoln. 
Cosponsored by Representative BLISS of South Portland and 
Senators: PresideIlt DAGGETT of Kennebec, GAGNON of Kennebec. 
Printed on n:cyded paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Preamble. 
Two 
thirds of both Houses of the Legislature 
deeming it necessary in accordance with the Constitution of 
Maine, Article IX, Section 14 to authorize the issuance of bonds 
on behalf of the State of Maine to provide funds as described in 
this Act, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
PART A 
Sec. A-I. Authorization of bonds. 
The Treasurer of State is 
authorized, under the direction of the Governor, to issue bonds 
in the name and on behalf of the State in an amount not exceeding 
$15,000,000 to raise funds for energy efficiency improvements at 
state buildings and faci Ii ties as authorized by this Part. 
The 
bonds are a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State. 
The bonds may not run for a period longer than 10 years from the 
date of the original issue of the bonds. 
At the discretion of 
the Treasurer of State, with the approval of the Governor, any 
issuance of bonds may contain a call feature. 
Sec. A-2. Records of bonds issued kept by Treasurer of State. 
The 
Treasurer of State shall keep an account of each bond showing the 
number of the bond, the name of the successful bidder to whom 
sold, the amount received for the bond, the date of sale and the 
date when payable. 
Sec. A-3. 
Sale; how negotiated; proceeds appropriated. 
The 
Treasurer of State may 
negotiate the 
sale of 
the 
bonds 
by 
direction of the Governor, but no bond may be loaned, pledged ur 
hypothecated on behalf of the State. 
The proceeds of the sale of 
the bonds, which must be held by the Treasurer of State and paicl 
by the Treasurer of St:ate 
upon warrants 
drawn by the State 
Controller, are appropriated solely for the purposes set forth in 
this Part. 
Any unencumbered balances remaining at the completion 
of the project 1n this Part lapse to the debt service account 
established for the retirement of these bonds. 
Sec. A-4. Interest and debt retirement. 
The Treasurer of State 
shall pay interest due or accruing on any bonds issued under this 
Part and all sums coming due for payment of bonds at maturity. 
Sec. A-5. Disbursement of bond proceeds. 
The proceeds of the 
bonds 
must 
be 
expended 
as 
set out 
in this Part 
under 
the 
direction and supervision of the Department of Administrative and 
Financial Services. 
Page l-LRI685(1) 
Sec. A-6. Allocations from General Fund bond issue. 
The proceeds 
of the sale of the bonds must be expended as designated in the 
following schedule. 
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
Provides funds for energy efficiency 
improvements at state buildings and 
facilities as identified by the 
Department of Administrative and 
Financial Services. 
$15,000,000 
Sec. A-7. Contingent upon ratification of bond issue. 
Sections 1 
to 6 
do not become effective unless the people of the State 
ratify the issuance of the bonds as set forth in this Part. 
Sec. A-S. Appropriation balances at year-end. 
At the end of each 
fiscal year, all unencumbered appropriation balances representing 
state money carry forward. 
Bond proceeds that have not been 
expended within 10 years after the date of the sale of the bonds 
lapse to General Fund debt service. 
Sec. A-9. Bonds authorized but not issued. 
Any bonds authorized 
but not issued, or for which bond anticipation notes are not 
issued 
within 
years 
of 
ratification 
of 
this 
Part, 
are 
deauthorized and may not be issued, except that the Legislature 
may, '''ithin 2 years after the expiration of that 5-year period, 
extenCi. the period for issuing any remaining unissued bonds 
bond anticipation notes for an additional amount of time not to 
exceeo 5 years. 
Sec. A-lO. Referendum for ratification; submission at statewide 
election: form of question: effectiye date. 
This Part must be submi tteel 
to the legal voters of 
the Tuesday following 
passage of this Part. 
the State at a statewide election held 011 
the first Monday of November 
following 
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 ho1dinq 
a statewide election, to vote on the acceptance or rejection of 
this Part by voting on the following question: 
"Do 
you 
favor 
a 
$15, 000, 000 
bond 
issue 
for 
conservation at state buildings and facilities?" 
energ-,. 
The legal 
vote by ballot 
cross or check 
the word "Yes" 
voters of each city, town and plantation shall 
on this question and designate their choice by a 
mark placed wi thin a corresponding square below 
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 a majority of the legal votes are cast in 
favor 
of this Part, 
the 
Governor 
shall 
proclaim 
the 
result 
without delay, and this Part becomes effective 30 days after the 
date of the proclamation. 
The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each 
city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this 
Part necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum. 
PARTB 
Sec. B-1. 
Transfer of funds. 
Notwithstanding 
any 
other 
provision of law, 
the State Controller shall transfer $250,000 
from the Conservation Program Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds 
account in the Public Utili ties Commission to the Department of 
Administrative and Financial Services no later than October 
:3, 
2003. 
SUMMARY 
The funds providE!d by this bond issue, 
in the amount of 
$15,000,000, will be used for energy efficiency improvements at 
state buildings 
and 
facilities. 
The bill also 
authorizes 
a 
transfer of $250,000 from the Conservation Program Fund to the 
Department 
of 
Administrative 
and 
Financial 
Services 
[01 
completion 
of 
an 
audit 
of 
state 
energy 
consumption 
anel 
opportunities for increased energy efficiency at state buildings 
and facilities.