Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0893
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: BEAR, WILLETTE, DANA, MITCHELL

Legislative Document 
No. 893 
H.P. 612 
House of Representatives, March 12, 2015 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to Article X of the 
Constitution of Maine Regarding the Publication of Maine Indian 
Treaty Obligations 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative BEAR of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. 
Cosponsored by Senator WILLETTE of Aroostook and 
Representatives: DANA of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, MITCHELL of the Penobscot Nation. 
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. X, §7 is amended to read: 
Section 7.  Original sections 1 and 2 of Article X not to be printed.  
Sections 1, and 2 and 5, of Article X of the Constitution, shall hereafter be omitted in any 
printed copies thereof prefixed to the laws of the State; but this shall not impair the 
validity of acts under those sections; and said section 5 shall remain in full force, as part 
of the Constitution, according to the stipulations of said section, with the same effect as if 
contained in said printed copies. 
; 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 require that the 
text of Article X, Section 5 of the Constitution be included in any printed 
copies of the Constitution included with the laws of the State?" 
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 proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Maine to require that 
the text of Article X, Section 5 of the Constitution be included in any printed copies of 
the Constitution included with the laws of the State.