Resolve, Establishing a Blue Ribbon Panel To Address Disparities in Economic Development between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and·the State and the United States
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1266
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: SOCTOMAH, RA YE, ADAMS, CLEARY, MITCHELL, PERRY, TILTON

Legislative Document 
No. 1266 
H.P.885 
House of Representatives, March 31, 2009 
Resolve, Establishing a Blue Ribbon Panel To Address Disparities in 
Economic Development between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and·the 
State and the United States 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
!7l~ 
1J7.1ll1l£~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative SOCTOMAH of the Passamaquoddy Tribe. 
Cosponsored by Senator RA YE of Washington and 
Representatives: ADAMS of Portland, CLEARY of Houlton, MITCHELL of the Penobscot 
Nation, PERRY of Calais, PlOTT! of Unity, TILTON of Harrington. 
Pl'inl~t.J tll1 l"l!'cydt:t.J pap~r 
.Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the LegislatUre do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation establishes the Blue Ribbon Panel To Address Disparities 
in Economic Development between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the State and the 
United States; and 
Whereas, the panel must be established before the 90-day period expires in order 
that the panel may complete its work and submit its report in time for the next legislative 
session; and 
. Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency with~n 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
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immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. ·Blue ribbon panel established. Resolved: That the Blue Ribbon Panel 
To Address Disparities in Economic Development between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and 
the State and the United States, referred to ill this resolve as "the panel," is established; 
and be it further 
Sec. 2. Panel membership. R.esolved: That the panel consists of the following 
. 
members: 
1. Two members. of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
2. Four members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House; 
3. The 2 economic d~velopment directors from the Passamaquoddy reservations; 
4. 
The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or" the 
commissioner's designee; 
5. The Director of the Eastern Maine Development Corporation or the director's 
designee; and 
6. 
A representative from the Sunrise County Economic Development Council, 
designated by the council. 
The United States Secretary of the Interior is invited to designate a representative to 
serve as a voting member.of the panel. 
Each of the 4 Members of the Maine Congressional Delegation is invited to. designate 
a representative to serve as a voting member of the panel; and be it further 
Sec. 3 .. Chairs. Resolved: That the flrst-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair of the panel and the flrst-named House of Representatives member is the House 
chair of the panel; and be it further 
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Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of panel. 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 of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the panel, which must be no later 
than August 1, 2009; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the panel shall examine disparities in economic 
development between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the State and the United States and 
how to best address those disparities; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Department of Economic and 
Community Development shall provide necessary staffing services to the panel; and be it 
further 
. 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 2,2009, the panel 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 Business, Research and Economic Development is 
authorized to introduce a bill related tq the subject matter of the report to the Second 
Regular Session of the 124th Legislature upon 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 the Blue Ribbon Panel To Address Disparities in Economic 
Development between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the State and the United States. The 
panel 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 Business, Research and Economic 
Development may introduce a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the Second 
Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.