Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Study Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0472
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: SULLIVAN, GERZOFSKY, LA VERRIERE-BOUCHER, O'BRIEN, BROMLEY, HALL

Legislative Document 
No. 472 
H.P.364 
House of Representatives, February 4,2003 
Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Study Regulatory Barriers 
to Affordable Housing 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative SULLIVAN of Biddeford. 
'17/~ /J7.1l/d£~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: GERZOFSKY of Brunswick, LA VERRIERE-BOUCHER of 
Biddeford, McKEE of Wayne, O'BRIEN of Lewiston, Senators: BROMLEY of Cumberland, 
HALL of Lincoln. 
Printed on recyc led paper 
Emergency preamble. 
Whereas. Acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, this resolve establishes the Task Force to Study 
Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing; and 
Whereas, this resolve is necessary as 
to 
afford adequate 
time 
for 
the 
issues 
addressed by the task force; and 
an emergency measure 
to 
be 
appropriately 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency wi thin 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 
Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: 
That the Task Force to 
Study Regulatory Barriers to Affordable 
this resolve as 
"the task force," is 
further 
Housing, referred to in 
established; 
and be it 
Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: 
That the task force 
consists of the following members. 
1. 
Three 
members 
of 
the 
Senate 
are 
appointed 
by 
the 
President of the Senate. 
2. 
Three 
members 
of 
the 
House 
of 
Representatives 
are 
appointed by the Speaker of the House. 
3. 
Sixteen members are appointed by the Governor as follows: 
A. 
The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development; 
B. 
The Director of the Maine State Housing Authority; 
C. 
The 
Executive Director of the State Planning Office 
within the Executive Department; 
D. 
The President of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce; 
E. 
The 
Executive 
Director 
of 
the 
Maine 
Municipal 
Association; 
F. 
The President of the Maine Association of Planners: 
G. 
A representative from a neighborhood association; 
H. 
A representative from a city council; 
I. 
A municipal officer; 
J. 
A representative from a town planning board; 
K. 
A representative from a nonprofit housing developer; 
L. 
A representative from a for-profit housing developer: 
M. 
A representative from a land trust; 
N. 
A 
representative 
from 
a 
manufactured 
housing 
manufacturer; 
o. 
A representative from a financial institution; and 
P. 
A representative from the business community; and be it 
further 
Sec. 3. 
Task force chair. 
Resolved: 
That 
the 
first-named 
Senator is the Senate chair of the task force and the first-named 
member of the House is the House chair of the task force; and be 
it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments: convening of task force. Resolved: 
That all 
appointments 
must 
be 
made 
no 
later 
than 
days 
after 
the 
effective date of this resolve. 
The appointing authorities shall 
notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all 
appointments have been made. 
When the appointment of all members 
has been completed, the chairs of the task force shall call and 
convene the first meeting of the task force; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the task force shall hold its 
meetings at various locations in the State, to be determined by 
the chairs. 
The task force shall gather information and request 
necessary data from public 
and private entities in order to 
develop 
recommendations 
to 
reduce 
regulatory barriers 
to 
and 
provide 
incentives 
for 
the 
creation 
and 
availability 
of 
affordable housing consis tent wi th legi timate concerns of local 
communi ties 
for 
heal thy 
neighborhoods, 
sound 
environmental 
practices, sustainable affordability and inclusive communities; 
and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That, upon approval of the 
Legislative Council, 
the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force; ancl 
be it further 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That legislative members of 
the task force are entitled to receive the legislative per diem 
and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses related 
to their attendance at authorized meetings of the task force: and 
be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That the task force shall submi t 
CI 
report that includes its findings and recommendations, including 
suggested legislation, to the Legislative Council by December 10, 
2003. 
The task force is authorized to introduce legislation 
related to its report to the Second Regular Session of the l2lst 
Legislature at the time of submission of its report: and be it 
further 
Sec. 9. Extension. Resolved: 
That if the task force requires a 
limi ted extension of time to complete its study and make its 
report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant 
an extension. 
Upon submission of its required report, the task 
force terminates: and be it further 
Sec. 10. Budget. Resolved: 
That the chairs of the task force, 
with assistance from the task force staff, shall administer the 
task force's budget. Within 10 days after its first meeting, the 
task force shall present a work plan and proposed budget to the 
Legislative Council for approval. 
The task force may not incur 
expenses that would result in the task force's exceeding its 
approved budget. 
Upon request from the task force. the Executive 
Director of the Legislative Council shall promptly provide the 
task force chairs and staff with a status report on the task 
force's 
budget, 
expenditures 
incurred 
and paid 
and 
available 
funds. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Task Force to Study Regulatory 
Barriers to Affordable Housing.