Resolve, To Establish the Intergovernmental Advisory Commission
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1210
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: BOWEN, DAMON, BARSTOW, FLETCHER, JACKSON, KAELIN, RECTOR, SA VIELLO, SHERMAN, SUSLOVIC

Legislative Document 
No. 1210 
H.P.884 
House of Representatives, March 6, 2003 
Resolve, To Establish the Intergovernmental Advisory Commission 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative BOWEN of Rockport. 
Cosponsored by Senator DAMON of Hancock and 
/!l~/J1.~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BARSTOW of Gorham, FLETCHER of Winslow, JACKSON of Fort Kent, 
KAELIN of Winterport, RECTOR of Thomaston, SA VIELLO of Wilton, SHERMAN of 
Hodgdon, SUSLOVIC of Portland. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Sec. 
1. 
Commission 
established. 
Resolved: 
That 
the 
Intergovernmental 
Advisory 
Commission, 
referred 
to 
in 
this 
resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: 
That the commission 
consists of 21 members appointed ai follows: 
1. 
Seven members from State Government, 5 of whom must be 
commissioners appointed by the Governor and 2 of whom must be 
Legislators, one Senator appointed by the President of the Senate 
and one Representative appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
2. 
Seven county officials recommended by the Maine County 
Commissioners Association to be appointed by the Governor; and 
3. 
Seven 
municipal 
officers 
recommended 
by 
the 
Maine 
Municipal Association to be appointed by the Governor; and be it 
further; 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: 
That the 2 legislative members of 
the commission are the cochairs; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: 
That 
all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the 
effective date of this resolve. 
The appointing authorities shall 
notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all 
appointments 
have 
been 
completed. 
Within 
days 
after 
appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the 
first meeting of the commission; and be it further 
Sec.5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the commission shall: 
1. 
Study ways to reduce duplication among all 3 levels of 
government 
in 
the 
State 
as 
well 
as 
within 
each 
level 
of 
government; 
2. 
Promote 
communications, 
cooperation 
and 
efficient 
delivery of services; 
3. 
Monitor 
and discuss 
demands 
one level of government 
makes of another level; 
4. 
Study ways 
to cut government waste 
and 
improve 
the 
efficiency of service delivery; 
5. 
Develop a mechanism to establish a permanent statewide 
intergovernmental advisory commission; 
Page l-LRI003(1) 
6. 
Implement the other reforms proposed by the Task Force 
on 
Intergovernmental 
Structure, 
in 
its 
November 
1997 
Final 
Report, including, but not limited to, the creation of a county 
revenue sharing program and assistance to counties to undertake 
reforms 
of 
their 
charters 
and 
their 
provision 
of 
municipal 
services; and 
7. 
Recommend further reforms as its findings dictate; and 
be it further 
Sec. 
6. 
Staff assistance. 
Resolved: 
That, 
the 
Executive 
Department, 
State 
Planning 
Office, 
the 
Maine 
Municipal 
Association and the Maine County Commissioners Association shall 
provide necessary staffing services to the commission out of 
existing resources and shall contribute funds equally to pay for 
any agreed upon expenses; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the legislative members 
of the commission are entitled to the legislative per diem, as 
defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and 
reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses related to 
their 
attendance 
at 
authorized 
meetings 
of 
the 
commission. 
Public members not otherwise compensated by their employers or 
other entities 
that 
they 
represent 
are 
entitled 
to 
receive 
reimbursement of necessary expenses and, upon a demonstration of 
financial hardship, a per diem equal to the legislative per diem 
for their attendance at authorized meetings of the commission; 
and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That, 
no later than January 15, 
2004, 
the commission shall submit a 
report that includes its 
findings 
and 
recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, 
for presentation to the 
Legislature; and be it further 
Sec. 9. Extension. Resolved: 
That, if the commission requires 
a limited extension of time to complete its study and make its 
report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant 
an extension; and be it further 
Sec. 10. Commission budget. Resolved: 
That the chairs of the 
commission, 
with assistance 
from 
the 
commission staff, 
shall 
administer the commission's budget. 
Wi thin 10 days after its 
first meeting, 
the 
commission shall present 
a 
work plan and 
proposed budget to the Legislative Council for its approval. 
The 
commission 
may 
not 
incur expenses 
that would 
result in 
the 
commission's exceeding its approved budget. 
Upon request from 
the commission, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council 
shall promptly provide the commission chairs and staff with a 
status report on the commission budget, expenditures incurred and 
paid and available funds. 
SUMMARY 
This 
resolve 
establishes 
the 
Intergovernmental 
Advisory 
Commission to study ways to reduce duplication among all 3 levels 
of government in the State as well as within each level of 
government: 
promote 
communications, 
cooperation 
and efficient 
delivery of services: 
and develop a 
mechanism to establish a 
permanent statewide intergovernmental advisory commission.