An Act To Opt Out of Federal Daylight Saving Time and To Ask the United States Secretary of Transportation To Place the State in the Atlantic Time Zone
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0203
Committee Amendment CA_B_H77 (House)
Amends: 1 MRSA §151

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "B " to H.P. 159, L.D. 203, Bill, "An Act To Opt 
Out of Federal Daylight Saving Time and To Ask the United States Secretary of 
Transportation To Place the State in the Atlantic Time Zone" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §151, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 129, §1, is 
repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
§151. Standard time 
1. Standard time. The standard time for the State is the time as determined by 15 
United States Code, Sections 260 to 267. 
2. Advancement of time. The State is exempt from the provisions of 15 United 
States Code, Section 260a providing for an advancement of time during a portion of the 
year and instead observes Atlantic Standard Time throughout the year without 
advancement during any period. 
Sec. 2. 
Secretary of State to monitor legislative activities in 
Massachusetts and New Hampshire; request that United States Secretary of 
Transportation place Maine in Atlantic Standard Time Zone. The Secretary of 
State shall monitor legislative activities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire regarding 
placement of those states in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone. No later than 30 days after 
Massachusetts and New Hampshire adopt legislation seeking placement in the Atlantic 
Standard Time Zone, the Secretary of State shall request that the United States Secretary 
of Transportation place the State in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone. The Secretary of 
State shall notify the Revisor of Statutes and the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters if the United 
States Secretary of Transportation has approved placement of the State in the Atlantic 
Standard Time Zone. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
.,. 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" g 
"to H.P. 159, L.D. 203 
Sec. 3. Contingent effective date. That section of this Act that repeals and 
replaces the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, section 151 does not take effect unless the 
State is placed by the United States Secretary of Transportation in the Atlantic Standard 
Time Zone.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, replaces the bill. 
The amendment does the following. 
1. It requires the Secretary of State to monitor legislative activity in Massachusetts 
and New Hampshire regarding placement of those states in the Atlantic Standard Time 
Zone. 
2. It makes the State's request to the United States Secretary of Transportation to 
place the State in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone contingent on the adoption of the 
Atlantic Standard Time Zone by Massachusetts and New Hampshire and requires the 
Secretary of State to notify the Revisor of Statutes and the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters when the United 
States Secretary of Transportation has approved placement of the State in the Atlantic 
Standard Time Zone. 
3. The bill exempts the State from daylight saving time. The amendment provides 
that if the State is placed by the United States Secretary of Transportation in the Atlantic 
Standard Time Zone, the State no longer observes daylight saving time and Atlantic 
Standard Time is the standard time throughout the year without advancement during any 
period. 
4. The bill, contingent on a time zone change, changes the law governing periods of 
closure for hauling lobster traps. The amendment does not retain that provision. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/04/17 feac:.. 
LD203 
LR 1392(03) 
An Act To Opt Out of Federal Daylight Saving Time and To Ask the United States Secretary of 
Transportation To Place the State in the Atlantic Time Zone 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,B, { fl- 7 7 j 
Committee: State and Local Government 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Department of Secretary of State associated with monitoring legislative activities in 
Massachusetts and New Hampshire can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1392(03) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1