Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0490
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: JACKSON, CAIN, GERZOFSKY, HILL, PATRICK

Legislative Document 
No. 490 
S.P. 183 
In Senate, February 14, 2013 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Limit a Governor's Pension to Governors Who Have 
Served 2 Full Terms 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook. 
Cosponsored by Senators: CAIN of Penobscot, GERZOFSKY of Cumberland, HILL of York, 
PATRICK of Oxford. 
Constitutional amendment. Resolved:  Two thirds of each branch of the 
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be 
proposed: 
Constitution, Art. V, Pt. First, §6 is amended to read: 
Section 6.  Compensation.  The Governor shall, at stated times, receive for 
services a compensation, which shall not be increased or diminished during the 
Governor's continuance in office.  A Governor who leaves office after January 1, 2012 or 
the spouse of a Governor who leaves office after January 1, 2012 does not qualify for a 
retirement allowance based on the Governor's service unless the Governor served at least 
full terms as Governor. 
; and be it further 
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date. 
Resolved:  That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their 
respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for 
holding a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November 
following the passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment 
proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question: 
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to restrict the 
retirement allowance for a Governor who leaves office after January 1, 
2012 or the spouse of such a Governor to apply only to Governors who 
have served 2 full terms?" 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question 
and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding 
square below the word "Yes" or "No."  The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and 
declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of 
State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature.  The Governor shall 
review the returns.  If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the 
amendment, the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment 
becomes part of the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation; and be it 
further 
Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State 
shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies 
of this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum. 
SUMMARY 
This resolution amends the Constitution of Maine to provide that a Governor who 
leaves office after January 1, 2012 or the spouse of a Governor who leaves office after 
January 1, 2012 does not qualify for a retirement allowance based on the Governor's 
service unless the Governor served at least 2 full terms as Governor.