An Act Regarding the Administration and Financial Transparency of the Citizen Trade Policy Commission
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1151
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: MAKER, SHERMAN, GIFFORD, KESCHL, LAJOIE, MASTRACCIO, ROTUNDO, TURNER, WERTS, KATZ
Amends: 10 MRSA §11

Legislative Document 
No. 1151 
H.P. 816 
House of Representatives, March 21, 2013 
An Act Regarding the Administration and Financial Transparency 
of the Citizen Trade Policy Commission 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative MAKER of Calais. 
Cosponsored by Senator SHERMAN of Aroostook and 
Representatives: GIFFORD of Lincoln, KESCHL of Belgrade, LAJOIE of Lewiston, 
MASTRACCIO of Sanford, ROTUNDO of Lewiston, TURNER of Burlington, WERTS of 
Auburn, Senator: KATZ of Kennebec. 
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 Citizen Trade Policy Commission through Public Law 2011, chapter 
acquired ongoing funding to contract for qualified year-round administrative support 
staff and the commission contracted for such qualified staff; and 
Whereas, it is important to ensure that all funding provided to the commission 
remains available to the commission and does not lapse, including funding that would 
lapse at the end of the current fiscal year, so that the commission can continue to function 
appropriately and efficiently with the limited resources available to it; 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 enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA §11, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 699, §2, is repealed and 
the following enacted in its place: 
8.  Staff.  The Legislature, through the commission, shall contract for staff support 
for the commission, which, to the extent funding permits, must be year-round staff 
support.  In the event funding does not permit adequate staff support, the commission 
may request staff support from the Legislative Council, except that Legislative Council 
staff support is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session. 
Sec. 2.  10 MRSA §11, sub-§10, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 699, §2, is amended to 
read: 
10.  Accounting; outside funding.  All funds appropriated, allocated or otherwise 
provided to the commission must be deposited in an account separate from all other funds 
of the Legislature and are nonlapsing.  Funds in the account may be used only for the 
purposes of the commission.  The commission may seek and accept outside funding to 
fulfill commission duties.  Prompt notice of solicitation and acceptance of funds must be 
sent to the Legislative Council.  All funds accepted must be forwarded to the Executive 
Director of the Legislative Council, along with an accounting that includes the amount 
received, the date that amount was received, from whom that amount was received, the 
purpose of the donation and any limitation on use of the funds.  The executive director 
administers any shall administer all funds received in accordance with this section.  At 
the beginning of each fiscal year, and at any other time at the request of the cochairs of 
the commission, the executive director shall provide to the commission an accounting of 
all funds available to the commission, including funds available for staff support. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill modifies the law governing the Citizen Trade Policy Commission to provide 
that: 
1.  To the extent funding permits, the Legislature, through the commission, must 
contract for year-round staff support for the commission.  To the extent the commission 
lacks adequate staff support, the commission may request staff support from the 
Legislative Council, except that Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when 
the Legislature is in regular or special session; and 
2.  All funds appropriated, allocated or otherwise provided to the commission must be 
separately accounted for and used solely for the purposes of the commission and are 
nonlapsing.  At the beginning of each fiscal year, and at any other time at the request of 
the cochairs of the commission, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council must 
provide to the commission an accounting of all funds available to the commission, 
including funds for staff support. 
The bill is designated an emergency to ensure that the limited funding available to the 
commission does not lapse at the end of the current fiscal year.