An Act To Remove Restrictions on the Membership of Regional Water Councils
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0686
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: POULIOT, DOORE, HICKMAN, BELLOWS
Amends: 35-A MRSA §6802, 35-A MRSA §6803, 35-A MRSA §6807, 35-A MRSA §6808

Legislative Document
No. 686
H.P. 477
House of Representatives, February 28, 2017
An Act To Remove Restrictions on the Membership of Regional 
Water Councils
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative POULIOT of Augusta.
Cosponsored by Representatives: DOORE of Augusta, HICKMAN of Winthrop, Senator 
BELLOWS of Kennebec.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §6802, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 209, §1, is amended to 
read: 
§6802.  Regional water councils authorized 
Two or more water utilities may organize a regional water council by forming a 
nonprofit corporation under Title 13-B, the membership of which is not restricted to 
utilities owning, controlling, operating or managing only water utilities works.  A water 
utility is not required to become a member of a regional water council. 
Sec. 2.  35-A MRSA §6803, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 209, §1, is amended to 
read: 
§6803.  Council organization 
The organizational documents of a regional water council must provide for 
representation of each member.  The documents must specify the organizational structure, 
the method of withdrawal, the method of terminating the council and the grounds for 
suspension of member water utilities members. 
Sec. 3.  35-A MRSA §6807, sub-§§1 and 3, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 209, §1, 
are amended to read: 
1.  Expenses.  The member water utilities members of a regional water council may 
contribute funds to meet the expenses of the council.  Services of personnel, use of 
equipment and office space and other necessary services may be accepted from members 
as part of their financial support. 
3.  Report.  A regional water council shall make an annual report of its activities to 
the member utilities its members.  The report must be filed with the Public Utilities 
Commission and the drinking water program of the Department of Health and Human 
Services. 
Sec. 4.  35-A MRSA §6808, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 209, §1, is 
amended to read: 
1.  Public Utilities Commission.  The commission may receive, obtain and distribute 
state, federal or other funds supporting regional water council tasks and may provide 
assistance to regional water councils as appropriate.  This subsection does not require the 
commission to determine the appropriate disbursement of state, federal or other funds 
among members of a regional water council and does not prohibit a regional water 
council from obtaining, receiving or disbursing funds without commission involvement. 
Nothing in this chapter limits the commission's jurisdiction or authority over water 
utilities or other utilities that fall under the commission's jurisdiction that are members of 
regional water councils. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the laws regarding the authorization of regional water councils to 
remove the provision restricting membership to water utilities.