Resolve, To Create a Study Group To Research the Possibi£J of a Virtual Legislature
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0855
Committee Amendment CA_A_H467 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,l1 " to H.P. 606, L.D. 855, "Resolve, To Create a 
Study Group To Research the Possibi£J of a Virtual Legislature" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Study Issues Associated with 
Implementation of a Virtual LE~gislature' 
Amend the resolve in the emergency preamble in the 2nd whereas paragraph in the 
last line (page 1, line 4 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "Legislature" the 
following: 'to research and propose methods for remote citizen participation' 
Amend the resolve in the emergency preamble by inserting after the 2nd whereas 
paragraph the following: 
'Whereas, many citizens of this State cannot participate in public hearings due to 
their distance from the state capitol; and' 
Amend the resolve in section 2 by striking out all of subsection 4 (page 1, line 27 in 
L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'4. One member of the public appointed by the President of the Senate; 
5. One member of the public appointed by the Speaker of the House;' 
Amend the resolve in section 2 by renumbering the subsections to read consecutively. 
Amend the resolve in section 5 in subsection 3 in the first line (page 2, line lOin 
L.D.) by striking out the following: "and" 
Amend the resolve in section 5 in subsection 4 in the last line (page 2, line 12 in 
L.D.) by striking out the following: "." and inserting the following: ';' 
Amend the resolve in section :; by inserting after subsection 4 the following: 
'5. Strategies for remote citizen participation in public hearings; and 
6. Recommendations regarding implementing a pilot program.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "It· to H.P. 606, L.D. 855 
Amend the resolve by striking out all of sections 6 and 7 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the task force except that Legislative Council staff support 
is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session. The office of the 
Secretary of the Senate and office of the Clerk of the House must provide staff assistance 
to the task force upon request by the task force; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Preliminary report Resolved: That, no later than December 4,2013, 
the task force shall submit for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 126th 
Legislature a preliminary report that includes the recommendations of the task force 
regarding the study, including recommendations that can be implemented immediately 
and recommendations for a pilot program; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Final report. Resolved: That, no later than November 5, 2014, the task 
force shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including 
suggested legislation, for presentation to the First Regular Session of the l27th 
Legislature.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment provides that the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House 
each appoint one public member of the task force instead of having the Governor appoint 
public members. 
It requires the task force to study strategies for remote citizen 
participation and to make pilot program recommendations. It provides that the office of 
the Secretary of the Senate and office of the Clerk of the House assist the task force upon 
request. It also provides that the task force submit a preliminary report by December 4, 
2013 and in addition a final report on November 5,2014. 
FISCAL :\OTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 0611 0113 
~aC!. 
LD855 
LR 1729(02) 
Resolve, To Create a Study Group To Research the Possibility of a Virtual Legislature 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ~. u-; -til:; -V 
Committee: State and Local Government 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
L;!gislative Cost/Study 
Legislative Cost/Study 
The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $4,500 in fiscal year 2013-14. The Legislature's 
proposed budget includes $10,000 in fiscal year 2013-14 for legislative studies. Whether the amount is sufficient to 
fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. The 
Legislature can provide staff assistance to the study group utilizing existing budgeted resources. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The additional costs associated with serving on the study group can be absorbed by the Department of the Attorney 
General utilizing existing budgeted resources. 
LRl729(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1