An Act To Enhance the Operations of the Telecommunications Relay Services Advisory Council
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1872
Committee Amendment CA_A_H758 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1305, L.D. 1872, Bill, "An Act To 
Enhance the Operations of the Telecommunications Relay Services Advisory Council" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, provisions in this 
legislation relating to 
funding levels for 
telecommunications relay services need to be in place before contracts to provide 
telecommunication relay services are scheduled to be executed in June 2018; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill in section 3 in subsection 7 in paragraph A in the 14th line (page 1, 
line 37 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "annually," the following: 'in quarterly 
installments' 
Amend the bill in section 6 in §8704 in subsection 6 in the 4th line (page 4, line 44 in 
L.D.) by inserting after the following: "transfer funds" the following: 'quarterly' 
Amend the bill in section 6 in §8704 by inserting after subsection 6 the following: 
'7. Conflicts. A member of the council may not participate in any decision on any 
contract entered into by the council under this section if that member has any interest, 
direct or indirect, in any firm, partnership, corporation or association that is party to the 
contract. The interest must be disclosed to the council in writing and must be set forth in 
the minutes of the council. 
8. Report. Beginning December 1, 2019 and annually thereafter, the council shall 
submit a report to the Public Utilities Commission that details the activities of the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~· 
d-~· 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A,, to H.P. 1305, L.D. 1872 
council, including all the expenditures the council has made from the fund and how all 
vendors that the council contracts with for services were selected.' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 6 the following: 
'Sec. 7, Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES COUNCIL 
Telecommunications Relay Services Council Fund N288 
Initiative: Provides allocations for the annual budget for the Telecommunications Relay 
Services Council. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
2017-18 
$150,000 
$150,000 
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following: 
2018-19 
$600,000 
$600,000 
'Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation talces effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority report of the committee and it makes the following 
changes to the bill. 
1. It adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause. 
2. 
It specifies that the annual budget request of the Telecommunications Relay 
Services Council is to be transferred to the Telecommunications Relay Services Council 
Fund on a quarterly basis by the Public Utilities Commission. 
3. It adds a conflict of interest provision. 
4. It adds a reporting requirement that directs the council to submit an annual report 
to the Public Utilities Commission that details the activities of the council and council 
expenditures and vendor selections. 
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/11/18 feac. 
LD 1872 
LR 2929(02) 
An Act To Enhance the Operations of the Telecommunications Relay Services Advisory Council 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment A·( H-7s<t) 
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
1iscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2017-18 
FY 2018-19 
$150,000 
$600,000 
Projections 
FY2019-20 
$600,000 
Projections 
FY 2020-21 
$600,000 
This bill changes the name of the Telecommunications Relay Services Advisory Council to the Telecommunications 
Relay Services Council (TRSC). Currently, TRSC members are not authorized to receive compensation or 
reimbursement for expenses. This bill authorizes reimbursement for member expenses and the cost of holding public 
meetings. The bill also requires the PUC to forward the annual budget amount requested by the TRSC, now capped at 
$600,000, to the TRSC in quarterly installments without changing the amount requested. Funding is from the Maine 
Universal Service Fund, just as it is under cunent law and will be credited to the newly created Telecommunications 
Relay Services Council Fund. The bill includes allocations to the TRSC of $150,000 in fiscal year 2017-18 and 
$600,000 in fiscal year 2018-19. Finally, the bill grants an exemption to the TRSC from certain state purchasing rules 
related to competitive bidding. 
LR2929(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1