An Act To Authorize Department of Transportation Bond Issues To Match Available Federal Funds for Improvements to Highways and Bridges; Airports; Public Transit; State-owned Ferry Vessels and Ferry and Port Facilities; Port and Harbor Structures; Development of Rail Corridors and Improvements to Railroad Structures; and Statewide Trail and Pedestrian Improvements
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0998
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: DAMON, SAMPSON, ROSEN, SAVAGE, BROWNE, COLLINS, HOGAN, MAZUREK

Legislative Document 
No. 998 
S.P.338 
In Senate, February 24,2005 
An Act To Authorize Department of Transportation Bond Issues To 
Match Available Federal Funds for Improvements to Highways and 
Bridges; Airports; Public Transit; State-owned Ferry Vessels and 
Ferry and Port Facilities; Port and Harbor Structures; Development 
of Rail Corridors and Improvements to Railroad Structures; and 
Statewide Trail and Pedestrian Improvements 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator DAMON of Hancock. (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
Cosponsored by Representative SAMPSON of Auburn and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary ofthe Senate 
Senators: ROSEN of Hancock, SAVAGE of Knox, Representatives: BROWNE of Vassalboro, 
COLLINS of Wells, HOGAN of Old Orchard Beach, MAZUREK of Rockland, McKENNEY 
of Cumberland, P ARAD IS of Frenchville. 
Print..:d on recycled paper 
Preamble. 
Two 
thirds of both Houses 
deeming it necessary in accordance with 
Maine, Article IX, Section 14 to authorize 
on behalf of the State of Maine to provide 
this Act, 
of the Legislature 
the Constitution of 
the issuance of bonds 
funds as described in 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. Authorization of bonds. 
The Treasurer of State is 
authorized, under the direction of the Governor, to issue bonds 
in the name and on behalf of the State in an amount not exceeding 
$38,000,000 for the purposes described in section 6 of this Act. 
The bonds are a pledge of the full faith and credit of the 
State. 
The bonds may not run for a period longer than 10 years 
from 
the date of the original issue of the bonds. 
At 
the 
discretion of the Treasurer of State, with the approval of the 
Governor, any issuance of bonds may contain a call feature. 
Sec. 2. Records of bonds issued kept by Treasurer of State. 
The 
Treasurer of State shall keep an account of each bond showing the 
number of the bond, the name of the successful bidder to whom 
sold, the amount received for the bond, the date of sale and the 
date when payable. 
Sec. 
3. 
Sale; 
how negotiated; 
proceeds appropriated. 
The 
Treasurer of State may 
negotiate 
the 
sale of 
the 
bonds 
by 
direction of the Governor, but no bond may be loaned, pledged or 
hypothecated on behalf of the State. 
The proceeds of the sale of 
the bonds, which must be held by the Treasurer of State and paid 
by the Treasurer of State upon warrants 
drawn by the State 
Controller, are appropriated solely for the purposes set forth in 
this Act. 
Any unencumbered balances remaining at the completion 
of the project in this Act lapse to the debt service account 
established for the retirement of these bonds. 
Sec. 4. Interest and debt retirement. 
The Treasurer of State 
shall pay interest due or accruing on any bonds issued under this 
Act and all sums coming due for payment of bonds at maturity. 
Sec. 5. Disbursement of bond proceeds. 
The proceeds of the 
bonds must be expended as set out in this Act under the direction 
and supervision of the Commissioner of Transportation. 
Sec. 6. Allocations from Highway Fund and General Fund bond 
issue. 
The proceeds of the sale of the bonds authorized under 
this Act must be expended as designated in the following schedule. 
TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
Page l-LR2238(1) 
Highway Fund 
Highway and Bridge Improvements 
Highway Fund Total 
General Fund 
State-owned Ferry Vessels and Ferry and Port 
Facilities 
Rail Corridor Development 
Airports 
Transit Improvements 
Trail and Pedestrian Improvements 
General Fund Total 
$27,750,000 
$27,750,000 
$4,750,000 
$2,000,000 
$1, 500, 000 
$1, 000, 000 
$1, 000, 000 
$10,250,000 
Sec. 7. Contingent upon ratification of bond issue. 
Sections 1 to 
do not become effective unless the people of the State ratify 
the issuance of the bonds as set forth in this Act. 
Sec. 8. Appropriation balances at year-end. 
At the end of each 
fiscal year, all unencumbered appropriation balances representing 
state money carry forward. 
Bond proceeds that have not been 
expended within 10 years after the date of the sale of the bonds 
lapse to General Fund or Highway Fund debt service. 
Sec. 9. Bonds authorized but not issued. 
Any bonds authorized 
but not issued, or for which bond anticipation notes are not 
issued 
within 
years 
of 
ratification 
of 
this 
Act, 
are 
deauthorized and may not be issued, except that the Legislature 
may, within 2 years after the expiration of that 5-year period, 
extend the period for issuing any remaining unissued bonds or 
bond anticipation notes for an additional amount of time not to 
exceed 5 years. 
Sec. 10. 
Referendum for ratification; submission at statewide 
,~8 
election; form of question; effective date. 
This Act must be submitted 
to the legal voters of the State at a statewide election held in 
June following passage of this Act. 
The municipal officers of 
this State shall notify the 
inhabitants of their 
respective 
cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed 
by 
law 
for 
holding 
a 
statewide 
election, 
to 
vote 
on 
the 
acceptance or rejection of this Act by voting on the following 
question: 
"Do you favor a $38, 000, 000 bond issue for improvements to 
highways 
and 
bridges; 
airports, 
public 
transit 
and 
state-owned ferry vessels and ferry and port facilities; 
port and harbor structures; development of rail corridors 
and improvements to railroad structures; and statewide trail 
and pedestrian improvements that make the State eligible for 
up to $148,000,000 in matching federal funds?" 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall 
vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a 
cross or check mark placed wi thin a corresponding square below 
the word "Yes" or "No." 
The ballots must be received, sorted, 
counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings 
and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as 
votes for members of the Legislature. 
The Governor shall review 
the returns and, if a majority of the legal votes are cast in 
favor of this Act, the Governor shall proclaim the result without 
delay, and this Act becomes effective 30 days after the date of 
the proclamation. 
The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each 
city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this 
Act necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum. 
SUMMARY 
The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of 
$38,000,000, 
will 
be 
used 
for 
improvements 
to 
highways 
and 
br idges; airports, public transit and state-owned ferry vessels 
and 
ferry 
and 
port facilities; 
port 
and 
harbor 
structures; 
development 
of 
rail 
corridors 
and 
improvements 
to 
railroad 
]0 
structures; and statewide trail and pedestrian improvements that 
make 
the State eligible 
for 
up 
to 
$148,000,000 
in matching 
federal funds.