An Act To Establish the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0236
Committee Amendment CA_A_H215 (House)
Amends: 5 MRSA §7029

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A " 
to H.P. 190, L.D. 236, Bill, "An Act To 
Establish the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the issues resulting' from gender discrimination in the State exist and 
affect the lives' of women; and 
Whereas, the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women should begin to work 
on issues resulting from gender discrimination immediately; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §7029 in the first and 2nd lines (page 1, lines 6 and 7 in 
L.D.) by striking out the following: "12004-J, subsection 17" and inserting the following: 
'12004-1, subsection 88-A' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §7030 by striking out all of the first indented paragraph 
(page 1, lines 11 to 23 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'The commission consists of 17 members, including 7 appointed by the Governor, 5 
appointed by the President of the Senate and 5 appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives. 
In making these appointments, the Governor, the President of the 
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall consider and appoint 
residents of the State who have a knowledge of problems facing women in the State, who 
have experience in advocacy relating to women's issues and who provide leadership in 
programs or activities that improve opportunities for women. 
The members of the 
commission must be chosen from throughout the State, and the majority of members must 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COlvIMITTEE AMENDMENT"~ "to H.P. 190, L.D. 236 
be women. A member of the Legislature may not be appointed to the commission. The 
Governor shall appoint 7 members, each of whom represents one of the following 
interests: minorities, the elderly, low-income people, persons with disabilities, youth, 
working with victims of domestic violence and federally recognized tribes in the State.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §7030-D in subsection 5 in the last line (page 2, line 23 
in L.D.) by striking out the following: "women;" and inserting the following: 'women; 
and' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §7030-D in subsection 6 in the last line (page 2, line 25 
in L.D.) by striking out the following: "commission; and" and inserting the following: 
'commission.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §7030-D by striking out all of subsection 7 (page 2, 
lines 26 and 27 in L.D.) 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §7030-E in the first paragraph by striking out all of the 
last underlined sentence (page 2, line 30 in L.D.) 
Amend the bill in section 1 by striking out all of §7030-F (page 2, lines 31 to 33 in ' 
L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'§7030-F. Staffsupport 
The Secretary of State shall provide staffing support as required.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. 5,MRSA §12004-I, sub-§88-A is enacted to read: 
88-A. 
Women 
Permanent 
Commission on the 
Status of Women 
Not Authorized 
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following: 
MRSA §7029 
'Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
The amendment makes the following changes to the bill. 
1. 
It changes the membership of the Permanent Commission on the Status of 
Women. The Governor appoints 7 members rather than 9 and the President of the Senate 
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives appoint 5 members each rather than 4. 
Members of the Legislature may not be appointed to the commission. It also adds 
specific criteria for members appointed by the Governor. 
2. It removes the position of executive director from the commission. 
3. It provides that the commission will be staffed by the Secretary of State. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 190, L.D. 236 
4. It moves the commission from the section of Title 5 listing independent advisory 
boards and places it in the section of boards with minimal authority with no line item in 
the budget. 
5. It adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause. 
FISCAL SOTE REQURED 
(See attac~e~) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/24/09 ;rJ;t?ae 
124tb MAINE LEGISLATURE 
LD236 
LR416(02) 
An Act ']['0 Establish the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
lFiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A" 
Committee: State and Local Government 
lFiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
The Department of the Secretary of State will incur some additional costs to provide staffing support for the 
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Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. These costs can be absorbed within the department's existing 
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budgeted resources. 
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LR0416(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I