Resolve, Establishing the Blue Ribbon Commission To Study Landlord and Tenant Issues
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1080
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs
Sponsors: TUTTLE

Legislative Document 
No.1080 
H.P.747 
House of Representatives, March 17,2009 
Resolve, Establishing the Blue Ribbon Commission To Study 
Landlord and Tenant Issues 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative TUTTLE of Sanford. 
Printed Oil recycled p~pcr 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
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 Blue Ribbon Commission To StUdy Landlord and Tenant Issues is 
created in this resolve and must issue its findings and report by December 2, 2009; and 
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that 
the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next 
legislative session; 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, be it 
Sec. 1. 
Commission established. 
Resolved: 
That the Blue Ribbon 
Commission To StUdy Landlord and Tenant Issues, referred to in this resolve as "the 
commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That the commission consists of 
members appointed as follows: 
1. Six members appointed by the President of the Semite as follows: 
A. Three members of the Senate; 
. B. One member from an organization that provides free legal services to low-income 
persons in the State; 
C. One member from an organization representing landlords; and 
D. One member from an organization representing housing managers; 
2. Six members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows: 
A. Four members of the House of Representatives; 
B. One member representing the Maine State Housing Authority; and 
C. One member representing the District Court system; and 
3. The Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the 
commission; and be it further 
Sec. 4. 
Appointments; convening of commission. 
Resolved: 
That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed. Within 15 days after appointment 
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,of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commissIon, 
which must be no later than August 1, 2009; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall: 
1. Study the feasibility of obtaining heating fuel assistance and insulation assistance 
for landlords who serve low-income tenants in certain economically distressed areas; 
2. Study how to keep housing units in proper repair; 
3. Study how to keep tenants in their apartments in the event of a foreclosure; and 
4. Study any other issues pertaining to landlord and tenant issues that it determines ,to 
be relevant; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffmg services to the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 2,2009, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature. The 
Joint Standing Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs is authorized to introduce a bill 
related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 124th 
Legislatureupon receipt of the report. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY, 
This resolve establishes a blue ribbon commission to conduct a study and make 
recommendations on landlord and tenant issues and specifically ,address the feasibility of 
obtaining heating fuel- assistance and insulation assistance for landlords who serve low-
income tenants in certain economically distressed areas, how to keep housing units in 
proper repair, how to keep tenants in their apartments in the event of a foreclosure and 
other landlord and tenant issues that the commission determines to be relevant. The 
commission shall make a report arid recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee 
, on Legal 'and Veterans Affairs, which is authorized to introduce a biIl on this matter.