Resolve, Providing for the Official Observance of the 200th Anniversary of the Formation of the State of Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1143
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: HANDY, FREDETTE, PIERCE, CARPENTER, ACKLEY, ALLEY, CARDONE, FULLER, HICKMAN, RILEY, RYKERSON, SYLVESTER

Legislative Document
No. 1143
H.P. 806
House of Representatives, March 23, 2017
Resolve, Providing for the Official Observance of the 200th 
Anniversary of the Formation of the State of Maine
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HANDY of Lewiston.
Cosponsored by Representatives: FREDETTE of Newport, PIERCE of Falmouth, Senator 
CARPENTER of Aroostook and Representatives: ACKLEY of Monmouth, ALLEY of Beals, 
CARDONE of Bangor, FULLER of Lewiston, HICKMAN of Winthrop, RILEY of Jay, 
RYKERSON of Kittery, SYLVESTER of Portland.
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the Maine Bicentennial Commission, 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.  Appointments by President of the Senate.  Two members of the Senate, 
appointed by the President of the Senate; 
2.  Appointments by Speaker of the House.  Two members of the House of 
Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
3.  Appointments by Commissioner of Education.  Two members representing 
prekindergarten to adult education and 2 members representing private postsecondary 
education, appointed by the Commissioner of Education; 
4.  Appointments by Chancellor of the University of Maine System.  Two 
members representing the University of Maine System, appointed by the Chancellor of 
the University of Maine System; 
5.  Appointments by President of Maine Maritime Academy.  One member 
representing the Maine Maritime Academy, appointed by the President of the Maine 
Maritime Academy; 
6.  Appointments by President of Maine Community College System.  One 
member representing the Maine Community College System, appointed by the President 
of the Maine Community College System; 
7.  Appointments by Chief Justice.  One member representing the judiciary, active 
or retired, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court; 
8.  Appointments by Secretary of State.  One member representing the Office of 
the Secretary of State, appointed by the Secretary of State; 
9.  Appointments by Maine Humanities Council.  Two members representing the 
Maine Humanities Council, appointed by the Maine Humanities Council; 
10.  Appointments by Governor.  One member of the public, appointed by the 
Governor; and 
11.  Ex officio members.  Five ex officio members as follows: 
A.  The President of the Senate; 
B.  The Speaker of the House; 
C.  The Maine State Archivist, or the Maine State Archivist's designee; 
D.  The State Historian, or the State Historian's designee; and 
E.  The Director of the Maine State Museum, or the director's designee; and be it 
further 
Sec. 3.  Appointment terms.  Resolved:  That the Legislators appointed to the 
commission serve terms coincident with their legislative terms and are appointed every 2 
years.  Legislators may be reappointed to the commission and may continue to serve until 
their replacements are designated.  Other appointed members are appointed for terms that 
expire December 31, 2020; a vacancy is filled in the same manner as the original 
appointment; and be it further 
Sec. 4.  Appointments; chair; 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.  When appointment of all members 
is complete, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council shall call and convene the 
first meeting of the commission no later than October 16, 2017.  The commission shall 
select a chair from among its legislative members; and be it further 
Sec. 5.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the commission shall prepare and administer a 
comprehensive plan and program for the adequate observance and celebration on a 
statewide basis of the bicentennial anniversary of the formation of the State of Maine, 
coordinate the programs and activities of all public and private agencies and 
organizations in the State that are planned for the observation of the anniversary and 
engage in such other activities as the commission determines necessary and appropriate to 
carry out the purposes of this resolve; 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.  Meetings.  Resolved:  That the commission may hold up to 4 meetings a 
year, one of which must be a public hearing, and all meetings must be held during the 
interim between legislative sessions; and be it further 
Sec. 8.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 15th of each year until 
December 31, 2020, the commission shall submit a progress report that includes its 
findings and recommendations for presentation to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters; and be it further 
Sec. 9.  Funding.  Resolved:  That the commission may accept donations and 
contributions from any source to assist it in carrying out the purposes of this resolve.  
Funding received must be expended and accounted for in the same manner as funds 
appropriated to the commission by the Legislature.  The commission shall keep a record 
of contributions received and disbursements made and publish that record on the State's 
publicly accessible website. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Maine Bicentennial Commission to prepare and 
administer a comprehensive plan and program for the adequate observance and 
celebration on a statewide basis of the bicentennial anniversary in 2020 of the formation 
of the State of Maine.