An Act Special
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0070
Committee Amendment CA_A_H354 (House)
Amends: 21-A MRSA §633-A

AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 
Laws 
Governing 
the 
66, L.D. 70, Bill, 
Funding 
of 
State 
"An Act 
Special 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting 
clause and before the summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 21·A MRSA §633, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, 
is amended to read: 
§633. 
Election expenses; regular elections 
EHeeF~--~--~£~-aQQeQ-~-i~eQ££eQ-~~-~-mQBieiFa~i~y 
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municipality shall pay for the 
expense it incurs in calling, holding and reporting the results 
of an election except for the added expenses incurred by a 
municipality under section 632 and except for special elections 
held for the purpose of voting on bonds issued by the State. 
The 
State shall pay for other election expenses incurred as a result 
of the performance by state officials of their duties under this 
Title. 
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §633-A is enacted to read: 
§633-A. 
Election e~nses: special elections for bonds . 
1. 
Reimbursement for special election for bond issue. 
The 
expenses each municipality or county incurs in calling, holding 
and reporting the results of a special election held for the 
purpose of voting on bonds issued by the State must be reimbursed 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A .. to H.P. 66, L.D. 70 
by the State according to this 
section. 
The 
reimbursement 
provided 
to 
municipalities 
and 
counties 
is 
calculated 
by 
multiplying the municipality's population by its special election 
reimbursement rate. 
The special election reimbursement rates ar~ 
set as follows. 
A. 
For municipalities with populations of less than 1,000, 
the rate is 95¢; 
B. 
For municipalities with populations between 1,000 and 
4,999, the rate is 35¢; 
C. 
For municipalities with populations between 5,000 and 
10,000, the rate is 30¢; and 
D. 
For municipalities with populations greater than 10,000, 
the rate is 25¢. 
. 
Population is determined by the latest Federal Decennial Census 
or the population as determined and certified by the Department 
of Health and Human Services, whichever is more recent. 
2. 
RejmburSffl'f"nt 
in 
unorganized 
territor:y. 
If 
a 
municipality or county is not reimbursed pursuant to section 632 
for the cost of calling, holding and reporting the results of a 
special election in an unorganized territory held for the purpose 
of voting on bonds issued by the State, the reimbursement that 
would be provided to the unorganized territory pursuant to this 
section must be prOvided by the State to the entity that incurred 
the cost of the special election. 
3. 
Forms. 
The Secretary of State shall design a form to be 
provided to municipalities no later than 10 business days before 
a special election held for the purpose of voting on bonds issued 
by the State. 
In order to receive anY reimbursement, a municipal 
clerk must complete the form and return it to the Secretary of 
State no later than 10 business days after the special election. 
Upon receipt of the form, the Secretary of State shall review the 
forms for payment within 30 business days of receipt of the form 
from the municipality.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. 
It provides that the 
State reimburse municipalities for the costs of conducting a 
special 
election 
for 
the 
purpose 
of 
voting 
on 
bonds. 
Reimbursement rates are based on the population of a municipality. 
FISCAL ~OTE REQUIRED 
lSee~~hed) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/05/05 ~ae 
LD70 
LR0895(02) 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Funding of State Special Elections 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A" 
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Undetermined current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Requiring that the Secretary of State must use a particular formula by which municipalities will be reimbursed for the 
costs of certain special elections authorized by the Legislature will increase the General Fund costs to the Department 
of the Secretary of State. The amounts will depend on the number of special elections authorized by the Legislature 
and can not be determined at this time. The Department of the Secretary of State estimates that the formula-driven 
reimbursement cost will equal $446,838 for each eligible special election that takes place. 
LR0895(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1