Resolve, Authorizing a Study on the Impact of a Nonpartisan Legislature Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the ti tIe and before the summary and inserting in its place the following: 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 creates the Commission for a Nonpartisan Legislature in order to identify the potential positive results of having a nonpartisan Legislature; and Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative session; and 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 Page l-LR15l9(2) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0428
Committee Amendment CA_A_H194 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/1,, to H.P. 313, L.D. 428, Bill, "An 
Act To Require a Nonpartisan Legislature" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
'Resolve, Authorizing a 
Study on the Impact of a Nonpartisan 
Legislature' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the 
ti tIe and before the 
summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
'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 
creates 
the 
Commission 
for 
a 
Nonpartisan 
Legislature 
in 
order 
to 
identify 
the 
potential 
positive results of having a nonpartisan Legislature; and 
Whereas, 
the 
study must be initiated before the 
90-day 
period expires in order that the study may be completed and a 
report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative 
session; and 
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 
Page l-LR15l9(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,,{f.. to H.P. 313, L.D. 428 
Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: 
That the 
for a Nonpartisan Legislature, referred to in this 
"the commission," is established; and be it further 
Commission 
resolve as 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: 
That the commission 
consists of 9 members appointed as follows: 
1. 
Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of 
the Senate, each of whom serves on the Joint Standing Committee 
on State and Local Government; 
2. 
Three 
members 
of 
the 
House 
of 
Representatives, 
appointed by the Speaker of the House, each of whom serves on the 
Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government; 
3. 
A representative of Maine municipal governments who has 
expertise in municipal governing practices, 
appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
4. 
A representative 
of 
the 
Commission 
on 
Ethics 
and Election Practices who 
has expertise 
finance, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
Governmental 
in campaign 
5. 
A representative of the Department of the Secretary of 
State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions who has 
expertise in elections, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and 
6. 
A 
representative 
of 
a 
minor 
political 
party 
or 
unenrolled politician who has expertise in public service outside 
of the 2 major political parties, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: 
That the first-named Senate member 
is the Senate chair of the commission and the first-named House 
of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; 
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, which must be no later than June 
30, 2005; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the commission shall examine 
the possibilities for developing a nonpartisan Legislature by 
holding 4 public hearings and public work sessions; and be it 
further 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
"" "" 
.,~. 
t 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,POI to H.P. 313, L.D. 428 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That the Legislative Council 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and 
be it further 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the legislative members 
of the commission are entitled to receive 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 October 30, 
2005, 
the commission shall submit a 
report that includes its 
findings 
and 
recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, 
for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 122nd 
Legislature. 
The 
commission 
is 
authorized 
to 
introduce 
legislation related to its report to the Second Regular Session 
of the 122nd Legislature at the time of submission of its report; 
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. 
Within 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. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .J1h. to H.P. 313, L.D. 428 
SUMMARY 
This is the minority report of the committee. 
The amendment 
replaces 
the 
concept draft with 
a 
resolve establishing the 
Commission for a Nonpartisan Legislature to conduct a study on 
the impact of a nonpartisan Legislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Legislative Study 
Approved: 04/12/05 .?dac:.. 
LD428 
LR 1519(02) 
An Act to Require a Nonpartisan Legislature 
11/1 I' 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'r7 
Committee: State and Local Government 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Minority Report 
Fiscal Note 
Current Costs - Legislative Study 
The projected costs to fund the general operating expenses of the Commission for a Nonpartisan 
Legislature are $6,030 in fiscal year 2005-06. The Legislature's Part I budget includes $30,000 in 
fiscal year 2005-06 and $20,000 in fiscal year 2006-07 for legislative studies. Whether the amounts 
are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative 
Council and the Legislature. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The additional costs associated with participating on the commission can be absorbed by the Maine 
Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices and the Department of the Secretary of 
State. 
LR1519(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1