An Act To Create the Maine Council on Poverty and Economic Security March 6, 2007
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1110
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: EDMONDS
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I

Legislative Document 
No. litO 
S.P.362 
An Act To Create the Maine Council on Poverty and Economic 
Security 
March 6, 2007 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services 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. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§6-G is enacted to read: 
6-G. 
Economic 
Development 
Maine Council on 
Poverty and 
Economic 
Security 
Legislative per 
diem for 
appointed 
members plus 
expenses 
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA c. 391 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 391 
POVERTY AND ECONOMIC SECURITY 
§13171. Maine Council on Poverty and Economic Security 
MRSA § 13 I 71 
The Maine Council on Poverty and Economic Security, as established in Title 5, 
section 12004-1, subsection 6-G and referred to in this section as "the counciL" advises 
the Governor on ending poverty and providing economic security to disadvantaged 
citizens in the State. 
1. Membership; terms; meetings; removal. The council consists of 11 members. 
Of the 11 members, 9 must be members appointed by the Governor, including 2 members 
representing the business community, 2 members representing nonprofit agencies, 2 
members representing faith-based organizations and 3 members from the general public. 
In addition to the members appointed by the Governor, one member must be the 
Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee and one 
member must be the Commissioner of Labor or the commissioner's designee. 
The members shall elect the chair from the membership by majority vote of the 
membership at the first meeting of the council. The chair serves for the duration of that 
member's term unless a majority of the membership elects another chair. At the end of 
the chair's term as member, the membership shall elect a succeeding chair by majority 
vote of the membership. 
Members serve for a term of 2 years. At the end of a term an outgoing member serves 
until a successor has been appointed. A member may not serve more than 2 consecutive 
terms. 
The council shall meet at least annually to conduct business and to elect officers. A 
quorum consists of at least 4 members. The affirmative vote of a majority ofthe members 
present is necessary to decide any business brought" before the council. 
A member may be removed by the Governor for: 
A. Failure to attend council meetings; 
Page I -123LRI499(Ol)-1 
I 
B. Ceasing to represent the interest delineated in this subsection; 
2C-,-~oving out of the State; or 
D. Cause, as determined by the Governor. 
2. Duties of council. The council shall: 
A. 
Identify elements in the structure of government and society that are causing 
people to live in poverty; 
B. Study public and private resources that may be used in direct services to alleviate 
poverty and to advocate for changes in the structure of government and society 
studied in paragraph A; and 
C. Develop effective strategies to reduce poverty that can be achieved within the 
resource constraints of government and the individual with the goal of achieving 
financial sustainability. 
3. Report. The council shall make recommendations to the Governor every 2 years 
on how to end poverty in the State and provide economic security to citizens of the State. 
Sec. 3. Staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, 
section 13171, subsection 1 of the initial appointment made by the Governor for members 
of the Maine Council on Poverty and Economic Security, one member representing the 
business community, one member representing a nonprofit agency, one member 
representing a faith-based organization and one member from the general public shall 
serve initial terms of one year. 
SUMMARY 
This bill creates the Maine Council on Poverty and Economic Security, which is 
comprised of 11 members including the Commissioner of Health and Human Services 
and the Commissioner of Labor or the commissioners' designees and 9 members 
appointed by the Governor representing the business community, nonprofit agencies, 
faith-based organizations and the general public to advise the Governor on ending 
poverty and providing economic security to disadvantaged citizens in the State.