An Act To Add Members of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs to the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission and Add Corresponding Members for the State
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0394
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: WILLETTE, JACKSON
Amends: 30 MRSA §6212

Legislative Document 
No. 394 
H.P. 269 
House of Representatives, February 12, 2013 
An Act To Add Members of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs to the 
Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission and Add Corresponding 
Members for the State 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative WILLETTE of Mapleton. 
Cosponsored by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  30 MRSA §6212, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 384, Pt. F, §1 and 
affected by §4, is further amended to read: 
1.  Commission created. The Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission is established. 
The commission consists of 13 17 members, 6 8 to be appointed by the Governor, subject 
to review by the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary and to confirmation by the 
Legislature, 2 to be appointed by the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, 2 to be appointed by 
the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, 2 to be appointed by the Passamaquoddy Tribe, 2 
to be appointed by the Penobscot Nation and a chair, to be selected in accordance with 
subsection 2. The members of the commission, other than the chair, each serve for a term 
of 3 years and may be reappointed. In the event of the death, resignation or disability of a 
member, the appointing authority may fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. 
Sec. 2.  30 MRSA §6212, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2009, c. 384, Pt. F, §2 and 
affected by §4, is further amended to read: 
2.  Chair.  The commission, by a majority vote of its 12 16 members, shall select an 
individual who is a resident of the State to act as chair.  In the event of the death, 
resignation, replacement or disability of the chair, the commission may select, by a 
majority vote of its 12 16 remaining members, a new chair. When the commission is 
unable to select a chair within 120 days of the death, resignation, replacement or 
disability, the Governor, after consulting with the chiefs of the Aroostook Band of 
Micmacs, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Penobscot Nation and the 
Passamaquoddy Tribe, shall appoint an interim chair for a period of one year or for the 
period until the commission selects a chair in accordance with this section, whichever is 
shorter.  The chair is a full-voting member of the commission and, except when appointed 
for an interim term, shall serve serves for 4 years. 
Sec. 3.  30 MRSA §6212, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 384, Pt. F, §3 and 
affected by §4, is further amended to read: 
3.  Responsibilities. In addition to the responsibilities set forth in this Act, the 
commission shall continually review the effectiveness of this Act and the social, 
economic and legal relationship between the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, the Houlton 
Band of Maliseet Indians, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Penobscot Nation and the 
State and shall make such reports and recommendations to the Legislature, the Aroostook 
Band of Micmacs, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and 
the Penobscot Nation as it determines appropriate. 
Nine Twelve members constitute a quorum of the commission and a decision or action of 
the commission is not valid unless 7 9 members vote in favor of the action or decision. 
Sec. 4.  30 MRSA §6212, sub-§6, ¶¶B and C, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 636, Pt. 
C, §3 and affected by §4, are amended to read: 
B.  The Passamaquoddy Tribe; and 
C.  The Penobscot Nation.; and 
Sec. 5.  30 MRSA §6212, sub-§6, ¶D is enacted to read: 
D.  The Aroostook Band of Micmacs. 
Sec. 6.  Contingent effective date.  This Act takes effect October 1, 2013 only if, 
within 90 days after the adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 126th 
Legislature, the Secretary of State receives written certification from the Council of the 
Aroostook Band of Micmacs that the band has agreed to the provisions of this Act, 
written certification from the Houlton Band Council of the Houlton Band of Maliseet 
Indians that the band has agreed to the provisions of this Act, written certification from 
the Joint Tribal Council of the Passamaquoddy Tribe that the tribe has agreed to the 
provisions of this Act and written certification from the Governor and Council of the 
Penobscot Nation that the nation has agreed to the provisions of this Act pursuant to 25 
United States Code, Section 1725(e), copies of which must be submitted by the Secretary 
of State to the Secretary of the Senate, the Clerk of the House and the Revisor of Statutes. 
SUMMARY 
This bill adds to the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission 2 members of the 
Aroostook Band of Micmacs and 2 members appointed by the Governor.