Resolve, To Establish a Task Force To Ensure Equity in the Benefits Provided to Military Service Members
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0074
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: HANINGTON, ALLEY, LONG, STANLEY, TURNER, WALLACE

Legislative Document 
No. 74 
H.P. 68 
House of Representatives, January 16, 2015 
Resolve, To Establish a Task Force To Ensure Equity in the Benefits 
Provided to Military Service Members 
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative HANINGTON of Lincoln. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: ALLEY of Beals, LONG of Sherman, STANLEY of 
Medway, TURNER of Burlington, WALLACE of Dexter. 
Sec. 1.  Task force established.  Resolved:  That the Task Force to Ensure 
Equity in the Benefits Provided to Military Service Members in the State, referred to in 
this resolve as "the task force," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Task force membership.  Resolved:  That the task force consists of 9 
members as follows: 
1.  Two members of the Senate serving on the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans 
and Legal Affairs, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
2.  A representative of the American Legion, appointed by the President of the 
Senate; 
3.  Three members of the House of Representatives serving on the Joint Standing 
Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
4.  A representative of an honor guard association within the State, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House; 
5.  A representative of the Department of Maine Marine Corps League, appointed by 
the Governor; and 
6.  The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management or the 
commissioner's designee; and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Compensation.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, public 
members of the task force are not entitled to reimbursement for their expenses; and be it 
further 
Sec. 4.  Chairs. Resolved:  That the first-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair and the first-named House of Representives member is the House chair of the task 
force; and be it further 
Sec. 5.  Appointments; convening of task force.  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 task force. 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 task force to meet and conduct its business; and be it further 
Sec. 6.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the task force shall study the benefits established 
for military service members and veterans in the State and develop recommendations to 
ensure the benefits are being provided.  The task force shall ascertain if there is equity in 
the establishment, provision and application of these benefits and if the benefits are 
known to those eligible to receive them. The benefits include, but are not limited to, 
property tax exemptions, free automobile registration, automobile sales tax exemption, 
complimentary and reduced-rate licenses to hunt, trap and fish and day use passes to state 
parks and historic sites; and be it further 
Sec. 7.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the 
Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force; and be it 
further 
Sec. 8.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 2, 2015, the task force 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. The joint 
standing committee is authorized to introduce a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 
127th Legislature related to the subject matter of the report. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Task Force to Ensure Equity in the Benefits Provided to 
Military Service Members in the State.  The task force is directed to study and find out if 
there is equity in the establishment, provision and application of the benefits and if the 
benefits are known to those eligible to receive them. The benefits include, but are not 
limited to, property tax exemptions, free automobile registration, automobile sales tax 
exemption, complimentary and reduced-rate licenses to hunt, trap and fish and day use 
passes to state parks and historic sites. The task force is also directed to submit a report to 
the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs, and the joint standing 
committee is authorized to introduce a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 127th 
Legislature based on that report.