Resolve, To Establish the Road Usage Charge Task Force
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1150
Committee Amendment CA_A_H318 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 813, L.D. 1150, "Resolve, To Establish 
the Road Usage Charge Task Force" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study Transportation Funding Reform' 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and before the summary 
and inserting the following: 
'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: 
I. Three members of the Senate 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 members of the House of Representatives 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 first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the 
commission. 
The first-named Senate member must be from the Joint Standing 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
RO· 
· ... FS 
COMMIITEE AMENDMENT "A " 
to 11.P. 813, L.D. 1150 
Committee on Transportation and the first-named House member must be from the Joint 
Standing Committee on Transportation; 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. After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If30 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 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 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 pilot program to assess the potential for mileage-based 
revenue collection as an alternative to the gas tax system; 
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 in the federal fuel tax 
rates; 
9. Consider dedicating a portion of sale tax receipts from transportation-related sales 
to transportation; 
10. Evaluate the likelihood of possible future funds being dedicated to transportation 
from revenues from potential additional casinos in the State; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT •j}• to H.P. 813, L.D. 1150 
11. Invite knowledgeable stakeholders to provide written and oral comments on draft 
recommendations of the commission. 
Knowledgeable stakeholders must include 
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 Better 
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 in the State to allow input from residents of 
several regions in the State; 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, to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation. 
The Joint Standing 
Committee on Transp01iation may submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of 
the I 28th Legislature; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Funding. Resolved: That the costs of the study under section 5 must be 
provided from the Highway Fund; and be it further 
Sec. 9. 
Appropriations and allocations. 
Resolved: 
That the following 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
LEGISLATURE 
Study Commissions - Funding 0444 
Initiative: Provides a one-time allocation for the costs of Legislators serving as members 
of the Commission To Study Transp01iation Funding Reform. 
HIGHWAY FUND 
Personal Services 
All Other 
HIGHWAY FUND TOT AL 
2017-18 
$2,200 
$3,050 
$5,250 
2018-19 
$0 
$0 
$0 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report, strikes and replaces the resolve. The 
amendment establishes the Commission To Study Transportation Funding Reform. The 
7 
commission is required to 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 transportation 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
iROFS 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 8!3, L.D, 1150 
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 6, 2017. The Joint Standing Committee on Transportation may 
submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature relating to the 
subject matter of the report. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations 
section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/20/17 feac 
LD 1150 
LR 1555(02) 
Resolve, To Establish the Road Usage Charge Task Force 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment •fl• ( H '3) ~ 
Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
FY 2017-18 
FY 2018-19 
Projections 
FY 2019-20 
Projections 
FY 2020-21 
Net Cost (Savings) 
Highway Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Highway Fund 
Legislative Cost/Study 
$5,250 
$5,250 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
The bill includes a one-time Highway Fund allocation of $5 ,250 in fiscal year 2017-18 to the Legislature for the costs 
of legislators serving as members of the Commission to Study Transportation Funding Reform. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Transportation associated with serving on the Commission can be absorbed 
within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1555(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1