An Act To Amend the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices' Appointment Process
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1136
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs
Sponsors: CANAVAN, EDMONDS, ADAMS, CONOVER, CROCKETT, FLETCHER, HOTHAM, PATRICK, SNOWE-MELLO
Amends: 1 MRSA §1002

Legislative Document 
No. 1136 
H.P.829 
House of Representatives, March 7,2007 
An Act To Amend the Commission on Governmental Ethics and 
Election Practices' Appointment Process 
Reference to the Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative CANAVAN of Waterville. 
Cosponsored by President EDMONDS of Cumberland and 
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1J7.1lldC~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: ADAMS of Portland, CONOVER of Oakland, CROCKETT of Augusta, 
FLETCHER of Winslow, HOTHAM of Dixfield, McKANE of Newcastle, PATRICK of 
Rumford, Senator: SNOWE-MELLO of Androscoggin. 
Printed on TtX:ycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §1002, sub-§l-A, ~, as amended by PL 2005, c. 295, §I, is 
further amended to read: 
F. 
Upon a vacancy during an unexpired term, the term must be filled as provided in 
this paragraph for the unexpired portion of the term only. The nominee must be 
appointed by the Governor from a list of 3 qualified candidates provided by the 
leader of the party from the body of the Legislature that suggested the appointee who 
created the vacancy. If the vacancy during an unexpired term was created by the 
commission member who was appointed from the list of candidates presented to the 
Governor by the leaders of each party of each body of the Legislature jointly, the 
nominee must be appointed from a list of 3 qualified candidates provided jointly by 
the leaders of each party of each body of the Legislature. If the list of 3 qualified 
candidates required by this paragraph is not produced within 60 days after the 
vacancy is created, then the Governor shall appoint a candidate as the Governor 
determines within the subsequent 30 days. Nominees appointed pursuant to this 
paragraph are subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over election practices and legislative ethics and to confirmation 
by the Legislature. 
Sec. 2. 1 MRSA §1002, sub-§l-A, ~G, as amended by PL 2005, c. 295, § 1, is 
further amended to read: 
G. 
Upon a vacancy created by an expired term, the vacancy must be filled as 
provided in this paragraph. The nominee must be appointed by the Governor from a 
list of 3 qualified candidates provided by the leader of the party from the body of the 
Legislature that suggested the appointee whose term expired. When a vacancy is 
created by an expired term of the commission member who was appointed from the 
list of candidates presented to the Governor by the leaders of each party of each body 
of the Legislature jointly, the nominee must be appointed from a list of 3 qualified 
candidates provided jointly by the leaders of each party of each body of the 
Legislature. If the list of 3 qualified candidates required by this paragraph is not 
produced within 60 days after the vacancy is created, then the Governor shall appoint 
a candidate as the Governor determines within the subsequent 30 days. Nominees 
appointed pursuant to this paragraph are subject to review by the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over election practices and 
legislative ethics and to confirmation by the Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires the parties to submit a list of nominees for a vacancy on the 
Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices within 60 days of the 
vacancy or the Governor has the power within 30 days after to appoint a nominee as the 
Governor determines. 
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