Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study the Reduction of Unfunded and Outdated Municipal Mandates
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1377
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: THIBODEAU, CUSHING, HAMPER, BEAVERS, GINZLER, PETERSON, TEPLER, TUELL, TURNER

Legislative Document 
No. 1377 
S.P. 507 
In Senate, April 29, 2015 
Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study the Reduction of 
Unfunded and Outdated Municipal Mandates 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by President THIBODEAU of Waldo. 
Cosponsored by Senators: CUSHING of Penobscot, HAMPER of Oxford, Representatives: 
BEAVERS of South Berwick, GINZLER of Bridgton, PETERSON of Rumford, TEPLER of 
Topsham, TUELL of East Machias, TURNER of Burlington. 
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the Commission To Study the Reduction of Unfunded and Outdated Municipal 
Mandates, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That the commission consists of 
members appointed as follows: 
1.  One member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; 
2.  One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House; 
3.  One member representing the Governor's office appointed by the Governor; 
4.  Three members, one of whom is a representative of the Maine Municipal 
Association, one of whom is a representative of the Maine County Commissioners 
Association and one of whom is a representative of a municipality with 5,001 to 7,000 
residents, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
5.  Two members, one of whom is a representative of the Maine Town and City 
Clerks' Association and one of whom is a representative of a municipality with 10,001 to 
20,000 residents, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
6.  Two members who are representatives of municipalities of up to 2,000 residents, 
one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the 
House; and 
7.  Three members, one of whom is a representative of a municipality with 2,001 to 
5,000 residents, one of whom is a representative of a municipality with 7,001 to 10,000 
residents and one of whom is a representative of a municipality with over 20,001 
residents, appointed by the Governor. 
A legislative member's term is vacated if the member is not reelected.  When such a 
vacancy occurs, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall appoint a 
new legislative member; and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the Senate member is the Senate chair and the 
House of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission.  Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve.  The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed.  After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission.  If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority 
for the commission to meet and conduct its business; and be it further 
Sec. 5.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the commission shall meet at least twice annually 
to review unfunded and outdated municipal mandates in order to provide 
recommendations and to report out a list of mandates for the Legislature to consider 
eliminating or revising; and be it further 
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further  
Sec. 7.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 31, 2017, the 
commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, for presentation to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Commission To Study the Reduction of Unfunded and 
Outdated Municipal Mandates.  The commission is required to meet at least twice a year 
for 2 years to review unfunded and outdated municipal mandates in order to provide 
recommendations and to report out a list of mandates for the Legislature to consider 
eliminating or revising.