Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Study and Assess Maine's Regulatory Environment
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1194
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: PIERCE, DION, CHACE, FOLEY, HANLEY, HARLOW, KINNEY, PICKETT, WADSWORTH, CYRWAY

Legislative Document
No. 1194
H.P. 831
House of Representatives, March 28, 2017
Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Study and Assess Maine's 
Regulatory Environment
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PIERCE of Dresden.
Cosponsored by Senator DION of Cumberland and
Representatives: CHACE of Durham, FOLEY of Wells, HANLEY of Pittston, HARLOW of 
Portland, KINNEY of Limington, PICKETT of Dixfield, WADSWORTH of Hiram, Senator: 
CYRWAY of Kennebec.
Sec. 1.  Commission established. Resolved:  That the Commission To Study 
and Assess Maine's Regulatory Environment, referred to in this resolve as "the 
commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Commission membership. Resolved:  That the commission consists of 
the following 11 members: 
1.  Two members of the Senate, one who is a member of the Joint Standing 
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and one who is a member of the Joint 
Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, appointed by the President of the 
Senate; 
2.  Four members of the House of Representatives, one who is a member of the Joint 
Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, one who is a member of the 
Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology, one who is a member of 
the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources and one who is a member of the Joint 
Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
3.  One member who is a member of the Governor's staff, appointed by the Governor; 
4.  One member who is a representative of the energy industry, appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
5.  One member who is a representative of the forestry industry, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
6.  The Commissioner of Environmental Protection or the commissioner's designee; 
and 
7.  The Director of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission or the director'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; 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. 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 review the regulatory 
environment in the State.  As part of the review, the commission shall: 
1.  Quantify approval rates of large-scale development projects permitted by the 
State's regulatory agencies;  
2.  Determine how the State's regulatory approval rate compares to the regulatory 
approval rate of other states;  
3.  Review historical regulatory approval rates from previous Maine administrations;  
4.  Identify opportunities for improvement in the regulatory permitting process; 
5.  Identify regulatory trouble spots in particular industries or types of projects;  
6.  Identify benchmarks for regulatory approval rates to ensure the State is 
quantifiably business friendly; and 
7.  Make recommendations for improvements to the regulatory process, including 
identifying quantifiable metrics to improve legislative oversight of regulatory agency 
actions; 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 Environment and Natural Resources.  The 
Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources may submit a bill 
related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 128th 
Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve creates the Commission To Study and Assess Maine's Regulatory 
Environment. The commission is required to submit its report with its recommendations 
and including suggested legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and 
Natural Resources by December 6, 2017.