An Act To Provide Funding for the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1673
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: COLWELL, GAGNON, PINGREE, RICHARDSON, DAGGETT, MAYO, SAVAGE, TURNER, WESTON, YOUNGBLOOD

Legislative Document 
No. 1673 
H.P.1249 
House of Representatives, December 19, 2003 
An Act To Provide Funding for the Commission on Governmental 
Ethics and Election Practices 
(EMERGENCY) 
Submitted by the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices pursuant to 
Joint Rule 204. 
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 16,2003. Referred to the Committee on 
Appropriations and Financial Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant 
to Joint Rule 401. 
Presented by Speaker COLWELL of Gardiner. 
Cosponsored by Senator GAGNON of Kennebec and 
77l~ 
1?1.7l!dC~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: PINGREE of North Haven, RICHARDSON of Brunswick, Senators: 
President DAGGETT of Kennebec, MAYO of Sagadahoc, SAVAGE of Knox, TURNER of 
Cumberland, WESTON of Waldo, YOUNGBLOOD of Penobscot. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, due to earlier transfers to the General Fund, the 
Maine Clean Election Fund needs additional funding to cover the 
costs that it is anticipated will be incurred during the 2004 
statewide election; and 
Whereas, the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election 
Practices has certain pressing operational costs to adequately 
fulfill its responsibilities for statewide elections; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
PART A 
Sec. 
A-t. 
Appropriations 
and 
allocations. 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
The 
GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS AND ELECTION PRACTICES, Cc:»IMISSIOli ON 
Maine Clean Election Fund 
following 
Initiative: 
Appropriates funds to cover an anticipated shortfall 
in the Maine Clean Election Fund for projected costs of the 2004 
statewide election. 
The State Controller shall transfer these 
funds to the Maine Clean Election Fund no later than June 30, 
2004. 
General Fund 
All Other 
General Fund Total 
Governmental Ethics and Election 
Practices -
Commission on 0414 
2003-04 
$1,551,201 
$1, 551, 201 
2004-05 
$0 
$0 
Initiative: 
Appropriates funds 
for temporary employees needed 
for election-related data entry and clerical tasks. 
General Fund 
All Other 
2003-04 
$5,000 
2004-05 
$5,000 
General Fund Total 
$5,000 
$5,000 
Governmental Ethics and Election 
Practices -
Commission on 0414 
Initiative: 
Appropriates funds for necessary software costs and 
the operational costs for maintaining 2 servers. 
General Fund 
All Other 
General Fund Total 
Governmental Ethics and Election 
Practices -
Commission on 0414 
Initiative: 
Appropriates 
commission members. 
General Fund 
All Other 
General Fund Total 
funds 
GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS AND ELECTION 
PRACTICES, CCHIISSIOR ON 
DEPAR'l'MENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL -
ALL FUNDS 
2003-04 
$0 
$0 
2004-05 
$7,500 
$7,500 
for 
per 
diem 
payments 
to 
2003-04 
$1,500 
$1,500 
2003-04 
$1,557,701 
$1,557,701 
2004-05 
$1, 500 
$1,500 
2004-05 
$14,000 
$14,000 
PARTB 
Sec. B-1. 21-A MRS A §1124, sub-§2, 1[B, as amended by PL 2001, 
c. 714, Pt. RR, §1, is further amended to read: 
B. 
Two 
million dollars of the revenues 
from the taxes 
imposed under Ti tIe 36, Parts 3 and 8 and credited to the 
General 
Fund, 
transferred 
to 
the 
fund 
by 
the 
State 
Controller on or before January 1st of each year, beginning 
January 1, 
1999. 
These 
revenues 
must 
be offset in an 
equitable manner 
by 
an 
equivalent 
reduction within 
the 
administrative 
divisions 
of 
the 
legislative 
branch 
and 
executive branch agencies. 
This section may not affect the 
funds distributed to the Local Government Fund under Title 
30-A, section 5681. 
If the commission 
sufficient revenues 
determines 
to cover 
that the fund will not have 
the likely demand for funds 
from the Maine Clean Election Fund in the upcoming calendar 
year 
dQQe, 
by January 
h--d-QQe .lil, the commission shall 
provide a report of its projections of the balances in the 
Maine 
Clean 
Election 
Fund 
to 
the 
Legislature 
and 
the 
Governor and may request that the State Controller make the 
following transfers to the Maine Clean Election Fund from 
the 
General 
Fund. 
These 
transfers 
may 
include 
up 
to 
$2,000,000 no later than February 28, 
2004, reflecting an 
advance 
of 
the transfer of 
the 
amounts 
that would 
be 
received on or before January 1, 
2005 pursuant to this 
paragraph, and: 
(1) 
Up to $2,000,000 no later than February 28, 2006, 
reflecting an advance of the transfer of the amounts 
that would be received on or before January 1, 2007 
pursuant to this paragraph; and 
(2) 
Up to $2,000,000 no later than July 31, 
2006, 
reflecting an advance of the transfer of the amounts 
that would be received on or before January 1, 
2008 
pursuant to this paragraph; 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
Part A of this bill appropriates funds to the Commission on 
Governmental Ethics 
and Election Practices for 
the following 
purposes. 
1. 
It provides additional funding 
for 
the Maine 
Clean 
Election Fund. 
2. 
It provides 
additional 
funds 
for 
temporary workers 
needed for election-related data entry and clerical tasks. 
3. 
It provides additional 
funds 
for certain technology 
costs. 
4. 
It provides additional funds for per diem payments for 
commission members. 
Part B of this bill authorizes the commission to request 
transfers to the Maine Clean Election Fund if it determines that 
the likely demand from the fund in the coming year will exceed 
revenues 
in the 
fund. 
The bill specifically authorizes 
the 
commission to request a transfer of up to $2,000,000 no later 
than February 28, 2004, reflecting an advance of the transfer of 
amounts that would be received on or before January 1, 2005.