Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1692
Sponsors: CAIN, CRAVEN, BERRY, CAREY, NELSON, PINGREE, TRINWARD

Legislat~ve Document 
No.J692 
H.P.1193 
Hou.se of Representatives, January 6, 2010 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Amend the Requirements GoverningDirect Initiatives 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Reference to the Committee on Legal and VeteraI1S Affairs suggested and ordered printed . 
Presented by Representative CAIN of Orono. 
Cosponsored by Senator CRAVEN of Androscoggin and 
. 17/~ 
/J7.17ltl£~lwyt~l 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BERRY of Bowdoinham, CAREY of Lewiston, NELSON of Falmouth, 
Speaker PINGREE of North Haven, ROTUNDO ofLewiston,TRINWARD of Waterville . 
Printed on recycled pupa 
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: 
Two thirds of each branch of the 
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Consti.tution of Maine be 
proposed: 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Third; §18, sub-§I, as amended by CR 2005, c. 2, is 
further amended to read: 
17. 
2·1 
Section 1. Petition procedure. The electors may propose to the Legislature for 
its consideration. any bill, resolve or resolution, including bills to amend or repeal 
emergency legislation but not an amendment of the State Constitution, by written petition 
addressed to the Legislature or to either branch thereof and filed in the office of the 
Secretary of State by the hour of 5 :00 p.m., on or before the 50th day after the date of 
convening of the Legislature in first regular session or on or before the 25th day after the 
date of convening of the Legislature in second regular session, except that the written 
petition may not be filed in the office of the Secretary of State later than 18 months after 
the date the petition form was furnished or approved by the Secretary of State. The text 
of the proposed bill, resolve or resolution that is included in the application for a direct 
initiative of legislation must identifY the fiscal impact of, and the amount and source of 
revenue required to implement, the proposed bill, resolve or resolution. If the proposed 
bill, resolve or resolution requires a reduction in any-source of government revenue, or a 
reallocation· of funding from currently funded programs; the text of the proposed bill, 
resolve or resolution must identifY the program or programs whose funding must be 
reduced or eliminated to implement the proposed bill, resolve or resolution. 
The 
Legislature's office of fiscal review shall provide reasonable assistance to the proponent 
of the proposed bill, resolve or resolution in fulfilling the requirements of this section. If 
the applicable deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period runs until 
the hour of 5:00 p.m., of the nextday which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. 
; and be it further 
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date. 
Resolved: That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants .of their 
respective· cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for 
holding a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November 
following the passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment 
proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question: 
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to require that the text of a direct 
initiative' of legislation must identify the amount and source of revenue required to 
implement the initiative and, if applicable, identify the program or programs whose 
funding must be reduced or eliminated to implement the initiative?" 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question 
. and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding 
square below the word "Yes,f or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and. 
oeclared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of 
State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shaH 
review the returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the 
amendment, the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment 
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becomes part of the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation; and be it 
further 
Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State 
shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies 
of this resolution.necessary to carry out the purposes of this niferendum. 
SUMMARY 
This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to require that the text 
of a direct initiative of legislation identify the amount and source of revenue required to 
implement the initiative and, if applicable, identify the program or programs whose 
funding must be reduced or eliminated to implement the initiative. This resolution also· 
directs the Office of Fiscal and Program Review to provide reasonable assistance to the 
proponent of the direct initiative.