Resolve, To Establish a Commission To Study Transportation Funding Reform
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0706
Committee Amendment CA_A_H223 (House)

FmST REGULAR SESSION 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 482, L.D. 706, "Resolve, To Establish 
a Commission To Study Transportation Funding Reform" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, adequate, sustainable and predictable transportation funding is critical to 
the safety and economic well-being of all Maine citizens; and 
Whereas, funding for transportation infrastructure in Maine and the nation is 
seriously deficient; and 
Whereas, the shortfall of funding related to Maine's state highway and bridge 
system is at least $150,000,000 per year, without consideration of general obligation 
bonding; and 
Whereas, general obligation bonding levels are unpredictable due to the current 
short-term focus of the process that detennines bonding levels and priorities, a process 
that usually takes place late in a legislative session after fmalization of the General Fund 
budget, if at all; and 
Whereas, higher fuel efficiency of vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles continue to 
erode the funding provided by per gallon fuel taxes and increase the inequity among 
drivers in terms of the fee paid per mile for use ofthe highway and bridge system; and 
Whereas, fuel prices are relatively low but surely will rise in the years ahead; and 
Whereas, approximately 30,000,000 people visit Maine each year, a state with a 
year-round population of about 1,300,000 people, and the capacity and a significant 
portion of the cost of Maine's transportation system are driven by seasonal traffic 
volumes; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 482, L.D. 706 
Whereas, through years of capital planning, prioritization and efficiency initiatives, 
the Department of Transportation has proven that it uses funding efficiently and 
effectively and can be trusted to do so with additional funding; and 
Whereas, federal transportation funding is unpredictable and a predictable long-
term federal solution to Maine's transportation funding problem is unlikely; and 
Whereas, other states are finding transportation funding solutions and the State of 
Maine has an obligation to all Maine citizens to seek solutions now; and 
Whereas, the Commission To Study Transportation Funding Reform established in 
this resolve is a bipartisan commission charged with analyzing options and 
recommending legislation and is the best way to reform and supplement transportation 
funding in Maine; and 
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that 
the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next 
legislative session; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Commission To Study 
Transportation Funding Reform, 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 as follows: 
1. Three Legislators appointed by the President of the Senate, at least one of whom is 
from the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Senate, including at least 
one member of the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation and one member of 
either the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs or the Joint 
Standing Committee on Taxation; 
2. Seven Legislators appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at 
least 3 of whom are from the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the House, 
including at least one member of the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation and 
one member of either the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial 
Affairs or the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation; and 
3. The Commissioner of Transportation, or the commissioner's designee; and be it 
further 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair and the frrst-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the 
connmSSlOn. 
The frrst-named Senate member must be from the Joint Standing 
Committee on Transportation and the first-named House member must be from the Joint 
Standing Committee on Transportation; and be it further 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" R" to H.P. 482, L.D. 706 
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 study how to reform and 
adequately supplement funding for the State's transportation infrastructure to promote 
equity, sustainability and predictability in a manner that allows the State to responsibly 
provide a safe and reliable state transportation system. The study must focus on funding 
the state highway and bridge system, but must also consider capital funding through 
bonding of multimodal infrastructure. The commission shall: 
1. Determine funding levels necessary to achieve the highway and bridge capital 
goals set forth in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 23, section 73, subsection 7, 
paragraphs A to D, including anticipated shortfalls, for the next 10 years; 
2. Identify mechanisms that will increase the predictability of general obligation 
bonding levels for capital planning at the Department of Transportation for the state 
highway and bridge system and multimodal infrastructure for the next 10 years; 
3. Identify mechanisms to address the erosion of Highway Fund receipts and the 
rising inequity among drivers caused by higher automobile fuel efficiency and alternative 
fuel vehicles, such as adding a registration fee surcharge on hybrid, electric or other 
alternative fuel passenger automobiles; 
4. 
Consider a voluntary so-called "vehicle miles traveled" pilot program for 
passenger automobiles; 
5. Identify methods to more equitably share the costs of the highway system between 
residents of this State and nonresidents, including exploring the feasibility of reducing 
year-round baseline gasoline tax rates and adding a seasonal gasoline tax surcharge; 
6. Consider new highway tolling options; 
7. Consider adding a wholesale fuel tax component, including options that would 
reduce baseline per gallon fuel tax rates; 
8. Consider adjusting fuel tax rates, including options that can be implemented or 
eliminated as fuel prices rise due to market forces or increases to the federal fuel tax 
rates; 
9. Consider dedicating a portion of sales tax receipts from transportation-related 
sales to transportation infrastructure; 
10. Evaluate the likelihood, extent and time frame of possible future funds being 
dedicated to transportation infrastructure from revenues from potential additional casinos 
in the State; and 
11. Invite knowledgeable stakeholders to provide written and oral comments on draft 
recommendations of the commission. 
Knowledgeable stakeholders must include 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 482, L.D. 706 
representatives from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Maine, the 
Maine Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Associated General 
Contractors of Maine, the Maine Automobile Dealers Association, the Maine Be~er 
Transportation Association, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the Mayors' 
Coalition on Jobs and Economic Development, the Maine Motor Transport Association, 
the Maine Municipal Association, the Maine Service Center Coalition, the Maine 
Tourism Association and the Maine Turnpike Authority. 
The commission may meet up to 6 times. At least 3 meetings must allow public 
comment and be held at different locations to allow input from several regions in the 
State; and be it further 
Sec. 6. 
Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That the Office of Policy and Legal 
Analysis and the Office of Fiscal and Program Review shall provide necessary staffing 
services to the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 2,2015, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation. 
The Joint Standing 
Committee on Transportation may submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of 
the 127th Legislature related to the report; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Funding. Resolved: That the costs of the study must be provided from 
the Highway Fund by appropriation or allocation; and be it further 
Sec. 9. 
Appropriations and allocations. 
Resolved: 
That the following 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
LEGISLATURE 
Study Commissions - Funding 0444 
Initiative: Allocates funds on a one-time basis for the per diem costs and other expenses 
of 3 members of the Senate and 7 members of the House of Representatives to participate 
in up to 6 meetings of the Commission To Study Transportation Funding Reform during 
the interim between legislative sessions. 
HIGHWAY FUND 
Personal Services 
All Other 
HIGHWAY FUND TOTAL 
2015-16 
$3,300 
$4,450 
$7,750 
2016-17 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SU~y 
This amendment, which strikes and replaces the concept draft, establishes the 
Commission To Study Transportation Funding Reform. The commission is required to 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~s 
'Q;-0 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "~,, to H.P. 482, L.D. 706 
study how to refonn and adequately supplement funding for the State's transportation 
infrastructure to promote equity, sustainability and predictability in a manner that allows 
the State to responsibly provide a safe and reliable transportation system. 
The 
commission is required to report its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation no later than December 2, 
2015. The Joint Standing Committee on Transportation may submit legislation to the 
report. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: OS/26/15 
Mac. 
LD706 
LR 674(02) 
Resolve, To, Establish a Commission To Study Transportation Funding Reform .\ 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A{H~d..a?J 
, 
,Committee: Transportation 
.' 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
FY 2015-16 
FY 2016-17 
Proj~ctions 
FY 2017-18 
Projections 
FY 2018-19 
Net Cost (Savings) 
Highway Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Highway Fund 
Legislative Cost/Study 
$7,750 
$7,750 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Provides a one-time Highway Fund allocation of$7,750 in fiscal year 2015-16 for legislative per diem and expenses 
for 10 legislators for up to 6 meetings of the Commission to Study Transportation Funding Reform. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Transportation associated with the commissioner or his designee serving on the 
commission can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0674(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1