Resolve, To Improve the Professional Development of County Officials
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0142
Committee: State and Local Government

Legislative Document 
No. 142 
H.P.126 
House of Representatives, January 11,2007 
Resolve, To Improve the Professional Development of County 
Officials 
Reported by Representative BARSTOW of Gorham for the Intergovernmental Advisory 
Commission pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3D-A, section 2181, subsection 4, 
paragraph F. 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed 
under Joint Rule 218. 
Printt!u on recycled paper 
'I7l~ frl.1ild£~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Sec. 1. 
Intergovernmental Advisory Commission to establish a working 
group to improve the professional development of county officials. Resolved: 
That the Intergovernmental Advisory Commission, established under the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-1, subsection 75-C, shall establish a working group to 
improve the professional development opportunities available to county officials. The 
working group shall examine the existing professional development opportunities 
available to county officials, current qualifications required for office and the possibility 
for requiring additional qualifications for certain offices and develop an appropriate 
design for improving professional development. The working group shall also examine 
the feasibility of appointing officials where election is the current method of selection. 
The working group must include representatives of the Maine County Commissioners 
Association; Maine Sheriffs' Association; Maine Registers of Deeds Association; Maine 
Association of Registers of Probate; Maine Treasurers Association; Maine District 
Attorneys Association; Maine Municipal Association; and Executive Department, State 
Planning Office and others as determined appropriate by the Intergovernmental Advisory 
Commission; and be it further 
Sec. 2. 
Report and recommendations. 
Resolved: 
That the 
Intergovernmental Advisory Commission shall report the findings of the working group 
under section 1 and recommendations, including suggested legislation if appropriate, to 
the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government no later than January 15, 
2008; and be it further 
Sec. 3. 
Authority to report out legislation. Resolved: 
That the Joint 
Standing Committee on State and Local Government is authorized to report out 
legislation concerning the study under section 1 to the Second Regular Session of the 
123rd Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Intergovernmental Advisory Commission to establish a 
working group to examine the professional development available to county officials and 
make recommendations on how to improve professional development, including the 
possibility of requiring new qualifications and updating those currently required for 
county officials. The working group shall also consider the feasibility of having county 
officials appointed where election is the current method of selection. The working group 
shall report its findings to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government 
by January 15,2008. The Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government may 
report out legislation.