An Act Relating to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0505
Committee Amendment CA_A_H362 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .A-.. to H. P . 
Relating to the Northern New England 
380, L.D. 505, Bill, "An 
Passenger Rail Authority" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the 
enacting clause the following: 
. Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this Act expands the m~mbership of the Northern New 
England Passenger Rail Authority Board of Directors to include 
the 
Commissioner 
of 
Transportation 
and 
the 
Commissioner 
of 
Economic and Community Development; and 
Whereas, it is necessary for the new members of the board of 
directors 
to start work 
immediately 
to help facilitate 
the 
expansion and improvement of passenger rail service in Maine; 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,' 
Further amend the bill in section 8 in that part designated 
"§8112." by striking out all of subsection I (page 3, lines 6 to 
in L.D.) and inserting in its place the following: 
Page I-LR0347(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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1",\ 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A .. to H.P. 380, L.D. 505 
'1. 
Board of directors. 
The authority consists of a board 
of 
directors. 
The 
directors 
are 
the 
Commissioner 
of 
Transportation. who is a director ex officio. the Commissioner of 
Economic and Community Development. who also is a director ex 
officio. and 5 directors who are members of the public. appointed 
by the Governor and confirmed by the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters 
for 
5-year 
staggered 
terms. 
who 
shall 
serve 
until 
their 
respective successors are appointed and qualified. 
A vacancy in 
a position held by a director who is a member of the public 
occurring other than by the expiration of a term must be filled 
by the Governor and confirmed by the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters 
for the unexpired term.' 
Further amend the bill by inserting after section 9 the 
following: 
'Sec. 10 Transition provision. 
Current appointed members of 
the 
Northern 
New 
England 
Passenger 
Rail 
Authority board of 
directors shall serve until their terms expire. 
Sec. 11. Extension of passenger rail service. 
The Department of 
Transportation shall 
develop 
a 
plan to extend 
the existing 
passenger rail service between Boston, Massachusetts and Portland 
northward to Brunswick and Rockland so that this extended service 
is in operation no later than January 1, 2008. 
The Department of 
Transportation shall 
submit 
a 
report 
to 
the Joint Standing 
I 
Committee on Transportation with its findings and recommendations 
no later than January 1, 2006. 
: 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. ' 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment 
adds 
an emergency preamble 
and emergency 
clause 
to 
the bill. 
It requires 
members 
of 
the 
board of 
directors of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority 
who are appointed by the Governor to be confirmed by the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
transportation 
matters. 
The 
amendment 
also 
directs 
the 
Department of Transportation to develop a plan to extend the 
current Downeaster passenger rail service northward from Portland 
to Brunswick and Rockland so that this extended service is in 
operation 
no 
later 
than 
January 
1, 
2008. 
It directs 
the 
Department of Transportation to submit a report with its findings 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A .. to H.P. 380, L.D. 505 
and 
recommendations 
to 
the 
Joint 
Standing 
Committee 
on 
Transportation no later than January 1, 2006. 
The amendment also 
adds a transition provision section. 
FISCAL ~OTE REQlJIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05105105 ~ae 
LD505 
LR0347(02) 
An Act Relating to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,t\." 
Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor cost increase - Highway Fund 
LR0347(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1