Resolve, To Lower the Cost of State Government
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1021
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: NUTTING, HOLMAN, GOOLEY, NASS, CLARK, FLOOD, GROSE, LANSLEY, LUNDEEN, MILLETT

Legislative Document 
No. 1021 
S.P.338 
March 6, 2007 
Resolve, To Lower the Cost of State Government 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator NUTTING of Androscoggin. 
Cosponsored by Representative HOLMAN of Fayette and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: GOOLEY of Franklin, NASS of York, Representatives: CLARK of Millinocket, 
FLOOD of Winthrop, GROSE of Woolwich, LANSLEY of Sabattus, LUNDEEN of Mars Hill, 
MILLETT of Waterford. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Commission to Lower the Cost of State Government is established in 
this resolve to analyze State Government and identify efficiencies that would lead to 
spending reductions; 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 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, be it 
Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Commission to Lower 
the Cost of State Government, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is 
established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That the commission consists of 
members appointed as follows: 
1. Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, one Senator 
from the political party having the largest number of members in the Senate and one 
Senator from the political party having the second-largest number of members in the 
Senate. At least one of the Senators must serve on the Joint Standing Committee on State 
and Local Government; 
2. Four members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, 2 from the political party having the largest number of members in the House of 
Representatives and 2 from the political party having the second-largest number of 
members in the House of Representatives. 
At least one of the members from each 
political party must serve on the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local 
Government; 
3. One member of the public representing a statewide organization working with and 
representing low-income Mainers appointed by the President of the Senate; 
4. One member of the Maine Development Foundation appointed by the Speaker of 
the House; 
5. 
Two members of the public representing a statewide business organization 
appointed by the Governor; and 
6. One member ofthe public appointed by the Governor; and be it further 
Page I - 123LR1232(Ol)-1 
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 15 days after appointment 
of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission, 
which must be no later than 30 days after all appointments are made; and be it further 
Sec. 5. 
Duties. 
Resolved: 
That the commission shall undertake a 
II 
comprehensive analysis of State Government with the goals of consolidating functions 
and eliminating duplication and inefficiencies in the administrative and supervisory 
positions within the structure of State Government. 
In carrying out its duties, the 
commission shall investigate and identify major sources of administrative excess, 
redundancy, inefficiency and program overlap with other state, local or federal programs. 
In its report, the commission shall identify those administrative and supervisory positions, 
including positions in the unclassified service and major policy-influencing positions as 
set out in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 71, that should be eliminated in 
order to result in a spending reduction of a minimum of $30,000,000 annually; and be it 
further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Office of Program Evaluation and 
II 
Government Accountability shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission 
and the commission shall hire expert staff as it determines necessary within its budgeted 
resources; 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 January 8, 2008, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local 
Government for consideration in the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature. 
The commission is not authorized to submit legislation. Following receipt and review of 
the report, the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government may submit 
legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature; 
and be it further 
Sec. 9. 
Extension. 
Resolved: 
That, if the comrrusslOn 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. Funding sources. Resolved: That the commission shall seek outside 
funds to fully fund all costs of the commission. If sufficient outside funding has not been 
received by September 15, 2007 to fully fund all costs of the commission, no meetings 
are authorized and no expenses of any kind may be incurred or reimbursed. 
Contributions to support the work of the commission may not be accepted from any party 
having pecuniary or other vested interest in the outcome of the matters being studied. 
Any person, other than a state agency, desiring to make a financial or in-kind contribution 
must certify to the Legislative Council that it has no pecuniary or other vested interest in 
the outcome of the study. Such a certification must be made in the manner prescribed by 
the Legislative Council. All contributions are subject to approval by the Legislative 
Council. 
All funds accepted must be forwarded to the Executive Director of the 
Legislative Council along with an accounting record that includes the amount of funds, 
the date the funds were received, from whom the funds were received and the purpose of 
and any limitation on the use of those funds. The Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council shall administer any funds received by the commission. The executive director 
shall notify the chair of the commission when sufficient funding has been received; and 
be it further 
Sec. 11. 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 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the bipartisan Commission to Lower the Cost of State 
Government to undertake a comprehensive analysis of State Government with the goals 
of consolidating functions and eliminating duplication and inefficiencies in the 
administrative and supervisory positions within the structure of State Government. The 
commission shall investigate and identify major sources of administrative excess, 
redundancy, inefficiency and program overlap with other state, local or federal programs. 
The commission is charged with submitting a report and suggested legislation to the 
Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government by January 8, 2008. The 
report must identify those administrative and supervisory positions, including positions in 
the unclassified service and major policy-influencing positions, that should be eliminated 
in order to result in a spending reduction of a minimum of $30,000,000 annually.