An Act To Preserve Statewide Public Broadcasting
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0266
Committee Amendment CA_A_S33 (Senate)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §852

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 89, L.D. 266, Bill, "An Act To 
Preserve Statewide Public Broadcasting" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §852, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 848, §2, is 
amended to read: 
3. Transfer of assets and liabilities. The University of Maine System may transfer 
any assets and liabilities acquired pursuant to this section in order to unity operation in a 
nonprofit, nonstock private corporation~, referred to in this section as "the corporation." 
The University of Maine System retains a reversionary interest in the university's assets 
as provided for in the articles of incorporation of· that corporation. 
An annual 
appropriation for operating, constructing, equipping, maintaining, improving and 
replacing facilities of the corporation must be made in amounts sufficient to ensure 
delivery of broadcast sources throughout the State. 
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §852, sub-§4 is enacted to read: 
4. Condition of funding. As a condition of receiving an appropriation or allocation 
of state funds to broadcast throughout the State, the corporation shall continue to operate, 
equip and maintain facilities used to provide signals identified under paragraphs A and B 
that were in operation on February 1, 2009 or an equivalent network providing equivalent 
or expanded broadcast coverage throughout the State: 
A. 
A television broadcast signal originating from stations whose community of 
license is Presque Isle, Calais, Orono, Augusta and Biddeford; and 
B. A radio broadcast signal originating from stations whose community of license is 
Fort Kent, Presque Isle, Calais, Bangor, Waterville, Camden and Portland. 
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §852, sub-§5 is enacted to read: . 
5. 
Failure to meet funding conditions. If the corporation fails to meet the 
requirements of subsection 4 during any state fiscal year in which an appropriation or 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 89, L.D. 266 
allocation has been . made, the corporation shall return the full amount of that 
appropriation or allocation to the Treasurer of State within 15 business days of the 
beginning of the next state fiscal year. 
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §852, sub-§6 is enacted to read: 
6. Exceptions. The corporation does not fail to meet the requirements of subsection 
if: 
A. One or more of the broadcast signals described in subsection 4, paragraphs A and 
B is off the air for a period of time due to a reason outside of the control of the 
corporation; or 
B. All of the television broadcast signals or all of the radio broadcast signals are off 
the air for an equal period of time for any reason.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment eliminates the use of the terms "towers" and "transmitters." It 
specifies that facilities used to provide signals must be maintained to provide broadcast 
coverage that equals or exceeds the coverage in place on February 1,2009. 
It specifies that the corporation operating the statewide public broadcasting network 
has not failed to meet the broadcast requirements if the reason for a signal being off the 
air is outside the control of the corporation or if all signals in the network are off the air 
for an equal period of time. 
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FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 03/08/09 ;t:pac. 
LD266 
LR 793(02) 
An Act To Preserve Statewide Public Broadcasting 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ':4 " 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium savings - General Fund 
Making General Fund support to the Maille Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN) contingent upon it fulfilling certain 
requirements may result in savings to the General Fund if the conditions are not met and General Fund support is 
withdrawn .. The General Fund appropriation to MPBN is $2.05 million in fiscal year 2008-09. The Governor's 
Biennhll Budget for the 2010-2011 Biennium proposes to appropriate $2.17 million per year to the MPBN in both 
fiscal year 2009-10 and fiscal year 2010-11. General Fund appropriations contribute to approximately 20% of 
MPBN's total budget. The potential impact of the loss of General Fund support on the operations of MPBN can not be' 
determined at this time but is expected to be significant. 
LR0793(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I