An Act To Remove Restrictions on the Membership of Regional Water Councils
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0686
Committee Amendment CA_A_H75 (House)
Amends: 35-A MRSA §6801, 35-A MRSA §6802, 35-A MRSA §6803, 35-A MRSA §6804, 35-A MRSA §6807

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "4" to H.P. 477, L.D. 686, Bill, "An Act To 
Remove Restrictions on the Membership of Regional Water Councils" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §6801, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 209, §1, is amended to 
read: 
§6801. Definitions 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
1. Regional water council. "Regional water council" means a nonprofit corporation 
established for the benefit of 2 or more wateF utilities water-related entities pursuant to 
this chapter, where at least one of the organizing members is a water utility. 
2. Water-related entity. "Water-related entity" means a water utility or a municipal 
or quasi-municipal entity owning. controlling. operating or managing sewer, sanitary or 
storm water works. 
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §6802, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 209, §1, is amended to 
read: 
§6802. Regional water councils authorized 
Two or more water tttilities water-related entities may organize a regional water 
council by forming a nonprofit corporation under Title 13-B, the as long as one of the 
organizing members is a water utility. 
The membership of whieh a regional water 
council is restricted to wateF l:lti-lities water-related entities. A water utility is not required 
to become a member of a regional water council. 
Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §6803, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 209, §1, is amended to 
read: 
Page I - 128LR1054(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ft.~ 
COMMIITEE AMENDMENT f+" to H.P. 477, L.D. 686 
§6803. Council organization 
The organizational documents of a regional water council must provide for 
representation of each member. The documents must specify the organizational structure, 
the method of withdrawal, the method of terminating the council and the grounds for 
suspension of member 'Nater atilities members. 
Sec. 4. 35-A MRSA §6804, sub-§1, ~' as enacted by PL 2005, c. 209, §1, is 
amended to read: 
D. Exercise its powers and authority as a nonprofit corporation under Title 13-B as 
necessary or desirable for dealing with issues of local or regional significance to its 
members, except that it may not exercise any power or authority that would cause the 
regional water council to become a 1uater 1:1tility water-related entity within this State. 
Sec. 5. 35-A MRSA §6807, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 209, §1, is amended to 
read: 
§6807. Finances; annual report 
1. Expenses. The mem-ber water l:ltilities members of a regional water council may 
contribute funds to meet the expenses of the council. Services of personnel, use of 
equipment and office space and other necessary services may be accepted from members 
as part of their financial support. 
2. Funds; limitation. A regional water council may accept funds, grants, gifts and 
services from: 
A. 
The Federal Government; 
B. 
The State or its departments, agencies or instrumentalities; 
C. 
Any governmental unit not specified in paragraph A or B, whether participating 
in the regional water council or not; and 
D. 
Private and public sources. 
A fund, grant, gift or service of the State or its departments, agencies or instrumentalities 
otherwise available to water 1:1tilities water-related entities may not be made conditional 
on a water 1:ll:ility's water-related entity's membership in a regional water council. 
3. Report. A regional water council shall make an annual report ef.-its. including a 
statement of financial activities to the member l:ltilities water-related entities. The report 
must be filed with the Public Utilities Commission and the drinking water program of the 
Department of Health and Human Services.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment strikes and replaces the bill. It defines "water-related entity" as a 
water utility or a municipal or quasi-municipal entity owning, controlling, operating or 
managing sewer, sanitary or storm water works. It allows for a water-related entity to be a 
member of a regional water council and requires that one of the members of a regional 
water council be a water utility. It requires that a regional water council provide a 
statement of its financial activities to the member water-related entities and requires that 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT 'H "to H.P. 477, L.D. 686 
the statement must also be filed with the Public Utilities Commission and the drinking 
water program of the Department of Health and Human Services. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT