An Act to Reduce Legislative Salaries and Allowances
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0210
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: RICHARDSON, SYKES
Amends: 3 MRSA §2

Legislative Document 
No. 210 
H.P.169 
House of Representatives, January 21,2003 
An Act to Reduce Legislative Salaries and Allowances 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative RICHARDSON of Skowhegan. 
Cosponsored by Representative: SYKES of Harrison. 
Printed on recycled paper 
IY/~ 
117.11l~~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 3 MRSA §2, first" as amended by PL 1999, c. 509, §L 
is further amended to read: 
Each member of the Senate and House of Representatives, 
beginning with the first Wednesday of December 
6GGG 
2004 and 
thereafter, is entitled to $lG T 81§ $10,245 in the first year and 
$+T+69 $7,472 in the 2nd year of each biennium, except that if a 
Legislator who is a recipient of retirement benefits from the 
federal Social Security Administration files a written request 
with the Executive Director of the Legislative Council within one 
week after the biennium commences, the Legislator is entitled to 
$9 T 6+G $8,858.50 in each year of the biennium. 
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In addition, each Legislator is entitled 
to be paid for travel at each legislative session once each week 
at the -~e-
rate of 28.8 cents per mile to and from that 
Legislator's place of 
abode 
as--&~a~e--emp19yees--Feeeiye, the 
mileage to be determined by the most reasonable direct route, 
except that Legislators may be reimbursed for tolls paid for 
travel on the Maine Turnpike as long as they have a receipt for 
payment 
of 
the 
tolls, 
such 
tolls 
to 
be 
reimbursed 
when 
Legislators use the Maine Turnpike in traveling to and 
from 
sessions of the Legislature or in performance of duly authorized 
committee assignments. 
Each Legislator is entitled to mileage on 
the first day of the session, and those amounts of salary and 
expenses at such times as the Legislature may determine during 
the session, and the balance at the end of the session. 
Sec. 2. 3 MRSA §2, 3rd" as corrected by RR 2001, c. 2, Pt. 
A, §1, is amended to read: 
Except as provided in this section, 
each member of the 
Senate 
and 
House 
of 
Representatives 
is entitled to 
a 
meal 
allowance in the amount of $&6 $28.80 and a housing allowance in 
the amount of $38 for each day in attendance at sessions of the 
Legislature 
and 
for 
each 
day 
the 
member 
occupies 
overnight 
accommodations 
away 
from home either immediately preceding or 
immediately 
following 
attendance 
at 
daily 
sessions 
of 
the 
Legislature. 
The presiding officers may establish reasonable 
policies 
regarding 
allowances 
for 
meals 
and 
overnight 
accommodations for the day immediately preceding the session, 
which may include policies regarding whether an allowance is 
paid, whether the full amount or 
a portion of the statutory 
allowance is paid and whether receipts are required. 
In lieu of 
Page l-LR0525(1) 
the meal and housing allowance, each member is entitled to a 
daily meal allowance in the amount of $~6 $28.80 and actual daily 
mileage allowances in an amount up to but not exceeding $38 per 
day. 
Each member of the Senate also receives an annual allowance 
for constituent services in the 
amount of $2,000, 
$1,300 
in 
January and 
$700 
in the 
month 
following 
adjournment of 
the 
regular session. 
Each member of the House of Representatives 
also receives an annual allowance for constituent services in the 
amount 
of 
$1,500, 
$1,005 
~n January 
and 
$495 
in the 
month 
following adjournment of the regular session. 
Notwithstanding 
this 
section, 
during 
the 
first 
regular 
session 
of 
each 
legislative biennium, 
a 
member of the Senate or the House of 
Representatives may elect to receive the first payment of the 
annual allowance for constituent services in December following 
convening of the Legislature by notifying the Executive Director 
of 
the Legislative Council 
in the 
manner 
prescribed by the 
executive director. 
The Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council shall inform Legislators of the choice available for 
payment of the allowance for constituent services in the first 
year of the legislative biennium and of any tax implications 
associated with exercising that choice. 
Sec. 3. 3 MRSA §2, 10th~, as amended by PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. 
0, §5; c. 600, Pt. B, §§9 and 10; and c. 878, Pt. D, §§14 and 15, 
is further amended to read: 
The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, 
the 
floor 
leaders 
and 
their assistants 
and 
members of a committee, with the approval of the President of the 
Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives as 
to 
members 
of 
a 
committee, 
may 
also 
meet 
on 
days 
when 
the 
Legislature is not in daily session at any convenient location 
within the State. 
Each 
member 
of 
the 
Senate 
and 
House 
of 
Representatives saall-£eeei¥e is entitled to $55 for every day's 
attendance when meetings or daily sessions are held, 
a 
meal 
allowance in the amount of 
$~6 $28.80 and a housing allowance 
whereby 
actual 
lodging 
expenses 
will 
be 
reimbursed 
at 
the 
single-room rate, 
pFe¥ieee-~aa~ as long as a receipt is submitted 
to the Executive Director of the Legislative Council for each day 
in attendance at such meetings or daily sessions and for each day 
that member 
occupies overnight 
accommodations 
away 
from 
home 
ei ther immediately preceding or immediately following attendance 
at daily sessions of the Legislature and actual daily mileage 
allowances waiea-sHa±± that must be paid at the -same- rate pais 
~e--s-t-a-t-€---t'ffip],.e:yees of 28.8 cents per mile. In lieu of the meal 
and housing allowance, each member saall--ae is entitled to a 
daily meal allowance in the amount of $~6 $28.80 and actual daily 
mileage allowances. 
Sec. 4. Effective date. 
This Act takes effect December 1, 2004. 
SUMMARY 
This 
bill 
reduces 
the 
salaries 
and 
mileage 
and 
meal 
allowances 
for Legislators 
by 
10%, 
beginning with the 
122nd 
Legislature. 
Currently, salaries for Legislators are adjusted 
annually for inflation. 
This bill eliminates that adjustment.