An Act To Provide Tribal Representation in the Senate
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0655
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: TUTTLE, GERZOFSKY, BEAVERS, CLARK, MAKER, MITCHELL, SOCTOMAH, WOOD, SAVIELLO, THIBODEAU
Amends: 3 MRSA §1, 3 MRSA §2, 3 MRSA §21-B

Legislative Document 
No. 655 
H.P. 485 
House of Representatives, February 17, 2011 
An Act To Provide Tribal Representation in the Senate 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative TUTTLE of Sanford. 
Cosponsored by Senator GERZOFSKY of Cumberland and 
Representatives: BEAVERS of South Berwick, CLARK of Millinocket, MAKER of Calais, 
MITCHELL of the Penobscot Nation, SOCTOMAH of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, WOOD of 
Sabattus, Senators: SAVIELLO of Franklin, THIBODEAU of Waldo. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  3 MRSA §1,  as amended by PL 2009, c. 636, Pt. A, §1, is further amended 
by adding at the end a new paragraph to read: 
Beginning with the 126th Legislature, and biennially thereafter, the Tribal Clerk of 
the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Tribal Clerk of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Tribal 
Clerk of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or the Aroostook Micmac Council shall 
furnish, on or before the day preceding the meeting of the Legislature, to the Secretary of 
the preceding Senate a certification of the name and residence of the Senate Tribal 
Representative-elect of the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the 
Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or the Aroostook Band of Micmacs to the Legislature.  
The Senate Tribal Representative rotates every 2 years among the Penobscot Indian 
Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the 
Aroostook Band of Micmacs, as determined by agreement among the nation, tribe and 
bands. 
Sec. 2.  3 MRSA §2,  as amended by PL 2009, c. 636, Pt. A, §2, is further amended 
by adding after the 8th paragraph a new paragraph to read: 
Beginning with the 126th Legislature, the Senate Tribal Representative elected to 
represent the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Houlton Band of 
Maliseet Indians or the Aroostook Band of Micmacs at the Legislature is entitled to 
receive a salary equal to the salary of members of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives, including a cost-of-living adjustment, for each regular session and 
allowance for meals, constituent service, housing and travel expenses to the same extent 
as members of the Senate for attendance at each legislative session or authorized 
committee meeting.  For the duration of any special session of the Legislature, the Senate 
Tribal Representative is entitled to receive the same per diem payment and allowances, 
including housing, meal and travel expenses, as any member of the Senate and House of 
Representatives. 
Sec. 3.  3 MRSA §21-B is enacted to read: 
§21-B.  Senate Tribal Representative 
1.  Rights and privileges.  The Senate Tribal Representative elected to represent the 
Penobscot Indian Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Houlton Band of Maliseet 
Indians or the Aroostook Band of Micmacs at the Legislature: 
A.  Must be furnished a seat on the floor of the Senate; 
B.  With the consent of the President of the Senate, must be granted the privilege of 
speaking on the floor of the Senate on pending legislation; 
C.  Must be appointed to sit as a nonvoting member of a joint standing committee; 
and 
D.  May be granted other rights and privileges approved by the Senate. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes a Senate Tribal Representative to represent the Penobscot Indian 
Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or the 
Aroostook Band of Micmacs at the Legislature.  The position rotates among the nation, 
tribe and bands every 2 years as determined by agreement among the nation, tribe and 
bands.  The position is established beginning in the 126th Legislature.  The Senate Tribal 
Representative must be furnished a seat on the floor of the Senate, must be granted the 
privilege of speaking on the floor of the Senate on pending legislation and must be 
appointed to sit as a nonvoting member of a joint standing committee.  The Senate Tribal 
Representative may be granted other rights and privileges approved by the Senate.  The 
Senate Tribal Representative serves for 2 years and is entitled to receive a salary and 
allowances equal to the salary and allowances received by members of the Senate.