Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study the Salaries of the Governor, Legislators and Executive and Legislative Staff
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0899
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: CUSHING, HARVELL, DIAMOND, DION, HAMPER, KATZ, KINNEY, NADEAU

Legislative Document
No. 899
S.P. 301
In Senate, March 7, 2017
Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study the Salaries of the 
Governor, Legislators and Executive and Legislative Staff
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator CUSHING of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Representative HARVELL of Farmington and
Senators: DIAMOND of Cumberland, DION of Cumberland, HAMPER of Oxford, KATZ of 
Kennebec, Representatives: KINNEY of Knox, McELWEE of Caribou, NADEAU of 
Winslow.
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:    That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the Commission To Study the Salaries of the Governor, Legislators and Executive 
and Legislative Staff, 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 appointed as follows: 
1.  Three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including 2 
members from the party holding the largest number of seats in the Senate and one 
member from the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Senate; 
2.  Five members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, including 3 members from the party holding the largest number of seats in the 
House of Representatives and 2 members from the party holding the 2nd largest number 
of seats in the House of Representatives; 
3.  One member of the public with experience as an employer or chief executive 
officer, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
4.  One member of the public with experience in human resources in the private 
sector, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
5.  One member of the public with experience in salary and benefits issues, appointed 
by the President of the Senate; 
6.  The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services, or the 
commissioner's designee; and 
7.  The Executive Director of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System, or the 
executive 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.  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 salaries of the 
Governor, Legislators and executive and legislative staff members, including a 
comparison to salary structures used in other state governments, and make 
recommendations for necessary changes; 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, for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Commission To Study the Salaries of the Governor, 
Legislators and Executive and Legislative Staff.  The commission is charged with 
studying the salaries of the Governor, Legislators and executive and legislative staff 
members and making recommendations for any necessary changes.  The commission is 
required to submit a report containing its findings and recommendations to the Second 
Regular Session of the 128th Legislature by December 6, 2017.