An Act Relating to the Governance of the Maine State Housing Authority
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1778
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: COURTNEY, NUTTING, MARTIN, PLOWMAN, RAYE, RECTOR, MORISSETTE, PRESCOTT
Amends: 30-A MRSA §4723, 30-A MRSA §4725

Legislative Document 
No. 1778 
S.P. 615 
In Senate, January 19, 2012 
An Act Relating to the Governance of the Maine State Housing 
Authority 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator COURTNEY of York. 
Cosponsored by Speaker NUTTING of Oakland and 
Senators: MARTIN of Kennebec, PLOWMAN of Penobscot, President RAYE of Washington, 
RECTOR of Knox, Representatives: MORISSETTE of Winslow, PRESCOTT of Topsham. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  30-A MRSA §4723, sub-§2, ¶C, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 
and Pt. C, §106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10,  is 
further amended to read: 
C.    The Maine State Housing Authority shall must have a director, who must be a 
person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office.  The 
Governor shall appoint the director of the Maine State Housing Authority, subject to 
review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
economic development, and to confirmation by the Legislature. 
(1)  The director of the Maine State Housing Authority shall serve serves on a 
full-time basis for a 4-year term of office, and until a successor has been 
appointed and qualified.  The director does not have a term of office.  The 
Governor shall establish the rate and amount of compensation of the director. 
(2)  The powers and duties of the Maine State Housing Authority, except those 
listed in paragraph B, are vested solely in the director of the Maine State Housing 
Authority.  The director of the Maine State Housing Authority or a representative 
shall attend all meetings of the advisory board or of the commissioners. 
(3)  The director of the Maine State Housing Authority may act in all personnel 
matters and may employ technical or legal experts and any other officers, agents 
and employees that the director requires, and shall determine their qualifications, 
duties and compensation.  The director may delegate to the employees and agents 
any powers and duties that the director considers proper. 
Sec. 2.  30-A MRSA §4725, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. C, 
§106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is further 
amended to read: 
§4725.  Removal of commissioners or director 
A commissioner or director may be removed from office for inefficiency, neglect of 
duty or misconduct in office after hearing by the legislative body of a city, or by the 
selectmen of a town, or by the Governor, in the case of a commissioner of the Maine 
State Housing Authority.  The commissioner or director must be given a copy of the 
charges at least 10 days before the hearing and must be given an opportunity to be heard 
in person or to be represented by counsel.  If a commissioner or a director is removed, a 
record of the proceedings, together with the charges and the findings on the charges, shall 
must be filed in the office of the clerk or, in the case of a commissioner of the Maine 
State Housing Authority, in the office of the Secretary of State. This section does not 
apply to the director of the Maine State Housing Authority, who serves at the pleasure of 
the commissioners of the Maine State Housing Authority. 
SUMMARY 
This bill removes the provision of law that provides that the Director of the Maine 
State Housing Authority serves a 4-year term of office.  The bill provides that the director 
does not have a term of office and that the director serves at the pleasure of the 
commissioners of the Maine State Housing Authority.  It also removes the provision of 
law that states that the powers and duties of the Maine State Housing Authority, with 
certain exceptions, are vested solely in the Director of the Maine State Housing 
Authority.