Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study the Adequacy of Housing Safety Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0819
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: LIBBY, GOLDEN, CARPENTER, CHIPMAN, BROOKS, COLLINGS, FREY, HANDY, MOONEN, SCHNECK

Legislative Document
No. 819
S.P. 264
In Senate, March 2, 2017
Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study the Adequacy of 
Housing Safety Laws
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator LIBBY of Androscoggin.
Cosponsored by Representative GOLDEN of Lewiston and
Senators: CARPENTER of Aroostook, CHIPMAN of Cumberland, Representatives: BROOKS 
of Lewiston, COLLINGS of Portland, FREY of Bangor, HANDY of Lewiston, MOONEN of 
Portland, SCHNECK of Bangor.
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the Commission To Study the Adequacy of Housing Safety Laws, 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.  Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; 
2.  Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House; 
3.  The State Fire Marshal or the State Fire Marshal's designee; 
4.  One municipal chief of police from a municipality whose population is greater 
than 20,000, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
5.  One municipal fire chief from a municipality whose population is greater than 
20,000, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
6.  One municipal code enforcement officer from a municipality whose population is 
greater than 20,000, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
7.  A member of the public who owns multiple multifamily residential buildings, 
appointed by the President of the Senate; and 
8.  An attorney licensed in this State with familiarity in housing safety policy and 
law, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the first-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair and the first-named 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.  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 4 times to study the 
housing safety laws, including landlord and tenant relations and rights, the eviction 
process, bank foreclosure actions on abandoned property and rental housing fire safety 
issues, and make recommendations for necessary changes; 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 6, 2017, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal 
Affairs.  The Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs may submit a bill 
related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Commission To Study the Adequacy of Housing Safety 
Laws.  The commission is charged with studying the housing safety laws, including 
landlord and tenant relations and rights, the eviction process, bank foreclosure actions on 
abandoned property and rental housing fire safety issues, and making recommendations 
for any necessary changes.  The commission is required to submit a report containing its 
findings and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal 
Affairs by December 6, 2017.