An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Maine State Housing Authority
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1352
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: EDMONDS
Amends: 30-A MRSA §4723

Legislative Document 
No. 1352 
S.P.466 
March 12, 2007 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Maine State Housing 
Authority 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by President EDMONDS of Cumberland. 
Printed on recycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §4723, sub-§2,~, as enacted by PL i 987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 
and Pt. C, § I 06 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is 
further amended to read: 
B. 
The Maine State Housing Authority, as authorized by Title 5, chapter 379, sfl.atl 
must have + 2 commissioners, ~ 1 of whom sItal-I: must be appointed by the Governor, 
subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over economic development, and to confirmation by the Legislature. The 
6tfl 8th commissioner is the Treasurer of State who sltaU-sef¥e serves ex officio. The 
Treasurer of State may designate the Deputy Treasurer of State to serve in place of 
the Treasurer of State. The +tit 9th commissioner is the director of the Maine State 
Housing Authority who shall serve serves ex officio, and ,,,.,ho is chairman of the 
commissioners. The ~ 1 gubernatorial appointments must include, but are not limited 
to, representatives of bankers and of low-income or elderly people. 
One 
commissioner must be a resident of housing whiefl that is subsidized or assisted by 
programs of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or of 
the Maine State Housing Authority. In making this appointment, the Governor shall 
give priority consideration to nominations that may be made by tenant associations 
established in the State. 
The Governor shall appoint a chair of the commissioners from among the 7 
gubernatorial appointments. The commissioners shall elect a vice chairman vice-
chair of the commissioners from among their number the commissioners who are not 
serving ex officio. The commissioners of the Maine State Housing Authority shall 
establish and revise from time to time policies of the Maine State Housing Authority 
relating to the following particular matters: 
(1) Standards of issuing, servicing and redeeming bonds; 
(2) Purchase, sale or commitment to purchase mortgages or notes; 
(3) Initiating project construction and accepting properly completed facilities; 
(4) 
Setting and establishing selection and evaluation standards, criteria and 
procedures under which it will purchase, sell or agree to purchase loans, notes or 
obligations, having regard among other things to: 
(a) Property values; 
(b) Local economic conditions and expectancy;· 
(c) Credit and employment; and 
(d) 
Local housing conditions and needs and the availability of credit 
resources to meet those needs relative to similar or competing conditions and 
needs in other localities in the State; 
(5) Setting and establishing procedures for the servicing of loans, notes and 
obligations acquired by it, including the allowance of servicing fees to 
participating lenders to whom the Maine State Housing Authority may entrust 
I 
such servicing; 
p(lg~ 1 - 123UU.fl91(OJ)-1 
(6) Setting and establishing procedures for the collection of money due from 
') 
persons liable for payment, as to any loan, note or obligation held by the Maine 
State HOllsing Authority, by subrogation or otherwise, and to initiate and 
maintain any action at law or in equity, including foreclosure proceedings, to 
enforce payment; 
(7) 
Setting and establishing procedures for the orderly liquidation and 
disposition of any property acquired by the Maine State Housing Authority 
through foreclosure or otherwise in full or partial satisfaction of any debt or 
obligation held by it; and 
(8) Establishing and maintaining out of income or otherwise any reserves that 
i 1 
the Maine State Housing Authority from time to time determines to be necessary 
and prudent in addition to those specifically required. 
Following reasonable notice to each commissioner, -4- ~ commissioners of the Maine 
State Housing Authority constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting its 
business, exercising its powers and for all other purposes, notwithstanding the 
existence of any vacancies. Action may be taken by the commissioners upon a vote 
of a majority of the commissioners present, unless its bylaws require a larger number. 
SUMMARY 
This bill changes the number of commissioners of the Maine State Housing Authority 
appointed by the Governor from 5 to 7, and specifies that the Governor appoints a chair 
from among the 7 gubernatorial appointments. 
Puge 2 - 123LR2091{01]-1