An Act To Enhance the Concept of Representative Democracy by Ensuring Basic Compensation for Elected Representatives
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0226
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: BURNS, STRIMLING, CANAVAN, CRAVEN, CRESSEY, DRISCOLL, EMERY, GERZOFSKY, HILL, WHEELER
Amends: 3 MRSA §2-B, 3 MRSA §2-C

Legislative Document 
No. 226 
H.P.197 
House of Representatives, January 16,2007 
An Act To Enhance the Concept of Representative Democracy by 
Ensuring Basic Compensation for Elected Representatives 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative BURNS of Berwick. 
Cosponsored by Senator STRIMLING of Cumberland and 
'7J1~ frI· 7JldC~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: CANAVAN of Waterville, CRAVEN of Lewiston, CRESSEY of Cornish, 
DRISCOLL of Westbrook, EMERY of Cutler, GERZOFSKY of Brunswick, HILL of York, 
WHEELER of Kittery. 
Printed \)J} ret.:yt.: led paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 3 MRSA §2-B, sub-§2, ~, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 506, § I, is 
amended to read: 
B. 
The recommendations of the commission for all regular and special sessions of 
the next Legislature 
concerning~ compensation for the Attorney General, the 
Secretary of State, the Treasurer of State and the State Auditor; 
(1) Compensation of Legislators and representatives of Indian tribes, incillding, 
bllt not limited to, all payments for: salaries, meals, hOllsing, travel, mileage and 
all other expenses and allowances; additional service as President of the Senate, 
as Speaker of the HOllse or as a member of leadership; and for constitllent 
services; and 
(2) Compensation for the Attome:y General, the Secretary of State, the Treasllrer 
of State and the State Allditor; 
Sec. 2. 3 MRSA §2-C is enacted to read: 
§2-C. Salary plan based on basic needs budget 
1. Salary. The Executive Department, State Planning Office shall develop a salary 
plan for members of the House of Representatives and the Senate sufficient to meet a 
basic needs budget, which must include, but is not limited to, the following expenditure 
categories: housing, transportation, child care, health care insurance and out-of-pocket 
health care expenses, clothing, food, personal care and recreation. 
2. Eligibility. The Executive Department, State Planning Office shall determine 
eligibility for the salary plan for all members of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate. The plan must provide that a member whose total income meets the basic needs 
budget as developed under subsection 1 is not entitled to a salary for being a member of 
the Legislature and a member whose total household income falls below the basic needs 
budget is entitled to a salary up to the level of the basic needs budget for the household of 
the Legislator. The plan must set payment levels between zero and full salary. 
3. 
Legislation. 
By January 15th of each even-numbered year, the Executive 
Department, State Planning Office shall submit legislation to implement the salary plan 
developed under subsections 1 and 2. 
In accordance with the Constitution of Maine, 
Article IV, Part Third, Section 7, legislation increasing the compensation of members of 
the House of Representatives or the Senate may not take effect during the existence of the 
Legislature that enacted it. 
SUMMARY 
This biII requires the Executive Department, State Planning Office to develop a plan 
that sets the salary for members of the House of Representatives and the Senate at a level 
that meets a basic needs budget. The State Planning Office shall submit legislation to the 
I 
Legislature in each even-numbered year to implement the salary plan. A salary plan that 
increases members' compensation may not apply to the Legislature that enacts it.