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_A_H76 (House)
Amends: 1 MRSA §151

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " A " 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'Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §151, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 129, § 1, is 
repealed and the following enacted in its place: 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. If Massachusetts and New 
Hampshire adopt legislation requiring those states to be placed in the Atlantic Standard 
Time Zone, the Secretary of State shall submit to the legal voters of this State a 
referendum question in accordance with section 3. 
Sec. 3. Referendum. If Massachusetts and New Hampshire adopt legislation 
requiring those states to be placed in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, the Secretary of 
State shall submit to the legal voters of this State a referendum question in accordance 
with this section. The question must be submitted at the next practicable statewide 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~ .,,. 
COMMIITEE AMENDMENT"~ "to H.P. 159, L.D. 203 
election held in November following the adoption of the legislation in both Massachusetts 
and New Hampshire. 
The municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective 
cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a 
statewide election, to vote on the following question: 
"Do you favor having the State seek placement in the Atlantic Standard 
Time Zone and ending observance of daylight saving time?" 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question 
and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square 
below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and 
declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of 
State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall 
review the returns. If a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the question, the 
Governor shall proclaim the result without delay 
The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all 
ballots, returns and copies necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum. 
Sec. 4. Further proceedings if referendum passes. If an election is held 
pursuant to section 3 and a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the question, 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 approves placement of the State in the 
Atlantic Standard Time Zone. 
Sec. 5. 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 majority report of the committee, replaces the bill. It 
does the following. 
1. It adds a provision that 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 provides that if the Atlantic Standard Time Zone is adopted by Massachusetts 
and New Hampshire, the Secretary of State must submit to the voters of the State a 
referendum question asking voters to choose if the State should seek placement in the 
Atlantic Standard Time Zone and opt out of observing daylight saving time. 
3. It provides that if the referendum question is approved, the Secretary of State is 
required to request that the United States Secretary of Transportation place the State in 
the Atlantic Standard Time Zone. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 159, L.D. 203 
4. 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. 
5. The bill proposes to change 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 :fldac 
LD203 
LR 1392(02) 
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 
Referendum Costs 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ·~'{ J-1- 71,) 
Committee: State and Local Government 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Contingent current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Month/Year 
Election Type 
Question 
Nov/Contingent 
General 
Referendum 
Length 
Standard 
If Massachusetts and New Hampshire adopt placement in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, the question would be 
placed on the subsequent November ballot. The Secretary of State's budget includes sufficient funds to accommodate 
one ballot of average length for the general election in November. If the number or size of the referendum questions 
requires production and delivery of a second ballot, an additional appropriation of $107 ,250 may be required. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Department of Secretary of State associated with monitoring legislative activities in 
Massachusetts and New Hampshire and requesting the United States Secretary of Transportation to place Maine in the 
Atlantic time zone can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1392(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1