An Act To Establish the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1008
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS, MARTIN, MASTRACCIO, DESCHAMBAULT
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I, 5 MRSA §25001

Legislative Document
No. 1008
H.P. 709
House of Representatives, March 14, 2017
An Act To Establish the Permanent Commission on the Status of 
Racial and Ethnic Populations
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Representatives: MARTIN of Sinclair, MASTRACCIO of Sanford, Senator: 
DESCHAMBAULT of York.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§74-J is enacted to read: 
74-J.   
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA Pt. 31 is enacted to read: 
PART 31 
PERMANENT COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC 
POPULATIONS 
CHAPTER 631 
PERMANENT COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC 
POPULATIONS 
§25001.  Commission established 
The Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations 
established by section 12004-I, subsection 74-J and referred to in this chapter as "the 
commission," is an independent commission.  The commission shall promote, carry out 
and coordinate programs designed to improve opportunities for racial and ethnic 
populations in the State. 
§25002.  Membership 
The commission consists of 17 members, including 7 appointed by the Governor, 5 
appointed by the President of the Senate and 5 appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives.  In making these appointments, the Governor, the President of the 
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall consider and appoint 
residents of the State who have a knowledge of problems facing racial and ethnic 
populations in the State, who have experience in advocacy relating to racial and ethnic 
populations' issues and who provide leadership in programs or activities that improve 
opportunities for racial and ethnic populations.  The members of the commission must be 
chosen from throughout the State, and the majority of members must be members of 
racial and ethnic populations.  A member of the Legislature may not be appointed to the 
commission.  The Governor shall appoint one member representing each of the 
following:  the elderly, low-income people, persons with disabilities, youth, victims of 
domestic violence and federally recognized Indian tribes in the State. 
Racial and Ethnic 
Populations 
Permanent 
Commission on the 
Status of Racial and 
Ethnic Populations 
Not Authorized 
MRSA §25001 
§25003.  Term of office 
Members of the commission are appointed for 2-year terms.  A member may serve 
multiple terms. 
Members of the commission may serve after the expiration of their terms until their 
successors have taken office.  The Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker 
of the House may terminate the membership of their respective appointees for good 
cause.  The reason for the termination must be communicated in writing to a member 
whose membership is terminated.  The membership of any member of the commission 
must be terminated if the member is absent from 3 consecutive meetings without 
communicating good cause to the chair of the commission. 
§25004.  Vacancies 
A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for 
which the member's predecessor was appointed serves only for the remainder of that term 
and must be appointed by the same appointing authority.  Any vacancy on the 
commission does not affect its powers. 
§25005.  Chair 
The Governor shall select a chair from among the members of the commission.  The 
chair is authorized to appoint subcommittees. 
§25006.  Powers and duties 
The commission shall advise and consult with the Governor and the Legislature 
about, and assist them in improving, opportunities for racial and ethnic populations in the 
State by: 
1.  Research.  Carrying out research programs necessary to determine the status of 
racial and ethnic populations in the State; 
2.  Activities.  Promoting and coordinating activities on state and local levels 
designed to meet the problems of racial and ethnic populations in the State; 
3.  Advocate.  Serving as an advocate for racial and ethnic populations in making 
recommendations on proposed budgetary, legislative and policy actions to the Governor, 
the Legislature and other officials of the State and the Federal Government with respect 
to state and federal policies, programs and other activities affecting or relating to racial 
and ethnic populations in the State; 
4.  Information.  Informing the public about the presence or absence of opportunities 
for racial and ethnic populations in the State; 
5.  Meetings.  Conducting public hearings, conferences, workshops and other such 
meetings to obtain information about, discuss and publicize the needs of and solutions to 
the problems of racial and ethnic populations; and 
6.  Reports.  Making a biennial report to the Governor and the Legislature 
concerning the work and interests of the commission. 
The commission may accept funds from the Federal Government, from a political 
subdivision of the State or from an individual, a foundation or a corporation and may 
expend funds for purposes that are consistent with this chapter.  Funds received under this 
section must be deposited in a nonlapsing Other Special Revenue Funds account within 
the Department of the Secretary of State to support the work of the commission. 
§25007.  Meetings; compensation 
The commission shall meet at the call of the chair not less than 4 times each year. 
§25008.  Staff support 
The Secretary of State shall provide staffing support as required. 
Sec. 3.  Initial members.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, 
section 25003, of those members first appointed to the Permanent Commission on the 
Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations, the 4 appointed by the Governor, 2 appointed by 
the President of the Senate and 2 appointed by the Speaker of the House must be 
appointed for one-year terms.  The term of office of each member must be designated at 
the time of appointment. 
SUMMARY 
This bill creates the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic 
Populations to promote, carry out and coordinate programs designed to improve 
opportunities for racial and ethnic populations.