Resolve, To Lower the Cost of State Government
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1021
Committee Amendment CA_A_S264 (Senate)

Minority 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 338, L.D. 1021, "Resolve, To Lower 
the Cost of State Government" 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and before the summary 
and inserting the following: 
'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 Advisory Committee to Lower the Cost of State Government is 
established in this resolve to advise the Office of Program Evaluation and Government 
Accountability 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 
PART A 
Sec. A-I. Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability 
study. 
Resolved: 
That the Office of Program Evaluation and Government 
Accountability shall undertake, in consultation with the advisory committee, a 
comprehensive study analyzing State Government with the goals of consolidating 
functions and eliminating duplication and inefficiencies in contracted personal services 
and in administrative and supervisory positions within the structure of State Government. 
The study must investigate and identifY major sources of administrative excess, 
redundancy, inefficiency and program overlap with other state, local or federal programs. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
" 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 338, L.D. 1021 
The study must identify positions in the unclassified service and major policy-influencing 
positions, as set out in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 71, and contracted 
services that should be eliminated or consolidated to deliver the optimum services in the 
most cost-effective manner. 
The study must seek to achieve a targeted spending 
reduction of $30,000,000 annually. The Office of Program Evaluation and Government 
Accountability may hire expert staff to assist with these duties as it determines necessary 
within its budgeted resources. 
PARTB 
Sec. B-1. Advisory committee established. Resolved: That the Advisory 
Committee to Lower the Cost of State Government, referred to in this resolve as "the 
advisory committee," is established; and be it further 
Sec. B-2. Advisory committee membership. Resolved: That the advisory 
committee consists of 13 members appointed as follows: 
1. Appointments by the President of the Senate: 
A. Three members of the Senate, one Senator from the political party having the 
largest number of members in the Senate and 2 Senators from the political party 
having the second-largest number of members in the Senate. One of the Senators 
must serve on the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government and one 
must serve on the Government Oversight Committee; and 
B. One member of the public representing a statewide organization working with and 
representing low-income residents ofthe State; 
2. Appointments by the Speaker of the House: 
A. Five members of the House of Representatives, 3 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 and one must serve on 
the Government Oversight Committee; and 
B. One member of the public from a statewide organization representing municipal 
governments; and 
3. Appointments by the Governor: 
A. Two members of the public representing statewide business organizations, one of 
whom must represent small business; and 
B. One member of the public who is a retired state employee with expertise in state 
government financial matters; and be it further 
Sec. B-3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair of the advisory committee and the first-named House of Representatives member is 
the House chair of the advisory committee; and be it further 
Sec. B-4. 
Appointments; convening of advisory committee. Resolved: 
That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 338, L.D. 1021 
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 
advisory committee, which must be no later than 30 days after all appointments are made; 
and be it further 
Sec. B-5. 
Duties. Resolved: That the advisory committee shall provide advice 
and consultation to the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability as 
it undertakes the analysis of State Government outlined in Part A, section 1. At least 2 of 
the advisory committee's authorized meetings may be public hearings held in Augusta; 
and be it further 
Sec. B-6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Office of Program Evaluation 
and Government Accountability shall provide necessary staffing services to the advisory 
committee; and be it further 
Sec. B-7. 
Compensation. 
Resolved: 
That the legislative members of the 
advisory committee 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 advisory 
committee. 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 advisory committee; and be it 
further 
Sec. B-8. Report. Resolved: That, no later than January 8, 2008, the advisory 
committee and the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability shall 
jointly submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including 
suggested legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on State and 
Local Government and the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial 
Affairs for consideration in the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature. 
Following receipt and review of the report, the Joint Standing Committee on State and 
Local Government may submit a bill based on the report to the Second Regular Session 
ofthe 123rd Legislature; and be it further 
Sec. B-9. Funding sources. Resolved: That the advisory committee shall seek 
outside funds to fully fund all costs of the advisory committee. If sufficient outside 
funding has not been received by July 15, 2007 to fully fund all costs of the advisory 
committee, no meetings are authorized and no expenses of any kind may be incurred or 
reimbursed. Contributions to support the work of the advisory committee 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 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 338, L.D. 1021 
of the Legislative Council shall administer any funds received by the advisory committee. 
The executive director shall notifY the chairs of the advisory committee and the Director 
of the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability when sufficient 
funding has been received; and be it further 
Sec. B-IO. Advisory committee budget. Resolved: That the chairs of the 
advisory committee, with assistance from the advisory committee staff, shall administer 
the advisory committee's budget. Within 10 days after its first meeting, the advisory 
committee shall present a work plan and proposed budget to the Legislative Council for 
its approval. The advisory committee may not incur expenses that would result in the 
advisory committee's exceeding its approved budget. Upon request from the advisory 
committee, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council shall promptly provide the 
advisory committee chairs and staff with a status report on the advisory committee 
budget, expenditures incurred and paid and available funds; and be it further 
Sec. B-ll. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
LEGISLATURE 
Study Commissions - Funding 0444 
Initiative: Allocates funds for the per diem and expenses of the advisory committee. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
2007-08 
2008-09 
Personal Services 
$2,200 
$0 
All Other 
$5,350 
$0 
OTHERSPECLAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
$7,550 
$0 
LEGISLATURE 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
2007-08 
2008-09 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
$7,550 
$0 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
$7,550 
$0 
PROGRAM 
EVALUATION 
AND 
GOVERNMENT 
ACCOUNTABILITY, 
OFFICE OF 
Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability 0976 
Initiative: Appropriates funds for consultant services. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
2007-08 
$150,000 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2008-09 
$0 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 338, L.D. 1021 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$150,000 
$0 
PROGRAM EVALUATION AND 
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, OFFICE 
OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
2007-08 
2008-09 
GENERAL FUND 
$150,000 
$0 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
$150,000 
$0 
SECTION TOTALS 
2007-08 
2008-09 
l3 
GENERAL FUND 
$150,000 
$0 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
$7,550 
$0 
SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
$157,550 
$0 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. ' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority report, makes a number of changes to the 
resolve. 
1. 
It changes the commission from a legislative study staffed by the Office of 
Program Evaluation and Government Accountability to a study that is conducted and 
staffed by the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability in 
consultation with an advisory committee. 
2. It amends the membership of the committee from 11 to l3. It includes one more 
Senator and one more member of the House of Representatives. It replaces the member 
of the Maine Development Foundation with a member representing municipalities. It 
requires one of the members representing business to represent sman businesses. It 
requires a member of the public appointed by the Governor to be a retired state employee 
with expertise in state government financial matters. 
3. It includes an examination of contracted personal services in the study of State 
Government. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 338, L.D. 1021 
4. 
It requires the report to be submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Appropriations and Financial Affairs, in addition to the Joint Standing Committee on 
State and Local Government. 
5. It changes the date by which the advisory committee must have raised outside 
funding to support its activities from September 15,2007 to July 15,2007. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/07/07 hac:. 
LD 1021 
LR 1232(02) 
Resolve, To Lower the Cost of State Government 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" f'r " 
Committee: State and Local Government 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2007-08 
2008-09 
Projections 
2009-10 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$150,000 
$150,000 
$7,550 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Projections 
2010-11 
$0 
$0 
$0 
The resolve includes an allocation of Other Special Revenue Funds to the Legislature in the amount of$7,550 in fiscal 
year 2007-08 in the event funds are received from outside sources to fully fund the costs of the Advisory Committee to 
Lower the Cost of State Government. If sufficient outside funding has not been received by the advisory committee 
by July 15,2007, no meetings are authorized and no expenses may be incurred. 
The resolve also includes a General Fund appropriation of$150,000 in fiscal year 2007-08 to provide funds for 
consultant services. This $150,000 coupled with $150,000 for consultant services within OPEGA's budget will be 
required to fully conduct the comprehensive analysis. OPEGA also estimates that this study will require assigning 3 
OPEGA staff full-time for the duration of the project. Utilizing OPEGA's entire consulting budget for this study as 
well as staff resources may significantly impact the ability of the Government Oversight Committee to perform other 
reviews during this same time period. 
LR1232(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1