An Act To Establish the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0777
Committee Amendment CA_A_H493 (House)
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004, 5 MRSA §25001

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 582, L.D. 777, Bill, "An Act To 
Establish the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Establish the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, 
Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-1, sub-§74-J is enacted to read: 
74-J. 
Racial, 
Indigenous and 
Maine Tribal 
Populations 
Permanent 
Not Authorized 
Commission on the 
Status of Racial, 
Indigenous and 
Maine Tribal 
Populations 
MRSA §25001 
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA Pt. 31 is enacted to read: 
PART 31 
RACIAL, INDIGENOUS AND MAINE TRIBAL POPULATIONS 
CHAPTER 631 
PERMANENT COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF RACIAL, INDIGENOUS 
AND MAINE TRIBAL POPULATIONS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
,-r 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A "to H.P. 582, L.D. 777 
§25001. Commission established 
The Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal 
Populations, established by section 12004-1, subsection 74-J and referred to in this 
chapter as "the commission, 
is an independent commission. 
The commission shall 
promote, implement and coordinate programs that create and improve opportunities and 
incorporate the goal of eliminating disparities for historically disadvantaged racial, 
indigenous and tribal populations in the State. 
§25002. Membership 
1. Membership. To the extent possible, the commission must consist of members 
who represent the diverse racial, indigenous and tribal populations in the State. 
In 
making appointments, the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
House shall consider and appoint residents of the State who have a knowledge of 
problems facing racial, indigenous and tribal populations in the State, who have 
experience in advocacy relating to racial, indigenous and tribal populations' issues and 
who provide leadership in programs or activities that create and improve opportunities for 
racial, indigenous and tribal populations. The commission consists of the following 
members: 
A. Members appointed by the President of the Senate: 
(1) A representative of a statewide organization promoting civil rights that has 
racial justice or racial equity as its primary mission; 
(2) A representative of an economic policy organization or other data-focused 
organization; 
(3) A representative of an organization with expertise in legal and policy matters 
related to public benefit programs that assists individuals with low incomes; 
(4) A faculty member of a college or university in this State specializing in the 
history, the culture or the civil and human rights of historically disadvantaged 
racial, indigenous and tribal populations; and 
(5) 
A representative of organized labor with expertise in labor rights and 
working conditions; 
B. Members appointed by the Speaker of the House: 
( 1) A representative of an immigrant or refugee rights organization; 
(2) A representative from a housing or homelessness advocacy organization; 
(3) A representative of a community development financial institution; and 
(4) A representative of a historically disadvantaged racial population of the State; 
C. Members appointed by the Governor: 
(1) A member of the public representing the faith-based community; and 
(2) A member of the public representing youth; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A" to H.P. 582, L.D. 777 
D. Other members: 
(1) A representative from each of the federally recognized Indian tribes in the 
State. 
§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 a 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 commission shall select 3 chairs from among the members of the commission. 
The chairs are authorized to appoint subcommittees. 
§25006. Department input 
The commission shall seek input from the Department of Labor, the Department of 
Health and Human Services, the Department of Economic and Community Development 
and the Department of Education, as well as any other experts, in carrying out its duties. 
§25007. Duties and powers 
1. Commission duties. The commission shall: 
A. Carry out research necessary to determine the status of historically disadvantaged 
racial, indigenous and tribal populations, including the study of income levels of and 
opportunities available to historically disadvantaged racial, indigenous and tribal 
populations and the examination of quantitative and qualitative data associated with 
those populations regarding business ownership, household assets, debts and income, 
housing, employment, education, health care and access to wealth, capital and 
benefits; 
B. Seek public input by conducting public hearings annually to obtain information 
about the needs of and solutions to the problems faced by historically disadvantaged 
racial. indigenous and tribal populations; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A· to H.P. 582, L.D. 777 
C. Beginning January 1, 2020, and biennially thereafter, report to the Governor and 
the Legislature concerning the work and interests of the commission, including a 
summary of public comments obtained pursuant to paragraph B. 
2. Commission powers. The commission may: 
A. Promote and coordinate activities on state and local levels designed to meet the 
problems faced by historically disadvantaged racial, indigenous and tribal 
populations: 
B. Inform the public about the presence or absence of opportunities for historically 
disadvantaged racial, indigenous and tribal populations: 
C. 
Conduct additional public hearings, conferences, workshops and other such 
meetings to obtain information about, discuss and publicize the needs of and 
solutions to the problems faced by historically disadvantaged racial, indigenous and 
tribal populations; 
D. Submit to the Legislature, at the start of each regular session, such legislation as 
the commission determines appropriate for improving opportunities and eliminating 
disparities for historically disadvantaged racial, indigenous and tribal populations in 
the State: 
E. Advise and consult with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court 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 historically 
disadvantaged racial, indigenous and tribal populations: and 
F. Advise and consult with the Governor and the Legislature about, and assist them 
in improving, opportunities for historically disadvantaged racial, indigenous and 
tribal populations. 
§25008. Meetings 
The commission shall meet at the call of the chairs not less than 4 times each year. 
§25009. Administrative support 
The Commissioner of Labor shall provide administrative support to the commission 
as required. 
§25010. Federal and state funds 
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 Labor to support the work of the commission. 
Sec. 3. Initial members. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, 
section 25003, of those public members first appointed to the Permanent Commission on 
the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations, one appointed by the 
Governor, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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I 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,4,, to H.P. 582, L.D. 777 
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. 
Sec. 4. Initial report. No later than January 1, 2020, the Permanent Commission 
on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations established in the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 74-J shall submit a report 
that includes the commission's findings and recommendations on the commission's 
research and consideration of policy proposals pursuant to Title 5, section 25007, 
including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 
l29th Legislature. 
Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF 
Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations N329 
Initiative: Allocates funds to allow expenditure of any revenues received. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
2019-20 
$500 
$500 
2020-21 
$500 
$500 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. It changes the name of the Permanent Commission 
on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations to the Permanent Commission on the 
Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations and makes corresponding 
changes throughout the amendment to capture that change. It removes legislative 
members from the commission and makes additional changes to the public members of 
the commission. It further defines the duties and powers of the commission, including 
providing the commission with the authority to submit legislation at the start of each 
regular session. The amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/01/19 ;:tW'aC"... 
LD777 
LR 322(02) 
An Act To Establish the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ';f {/1-Lj 73 \ 
Committee: Labor and Housing 
) 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2019-20 
FY 2020-21 
$500 
$500 
Projections 
FY 2021-22 
$500 
Projections 
FY2022-23 
$500 
This bill includes Other Special Revenue Funds base allocations of$500 per year begim1ing in fiscal year 2019-20 to 
a newly created Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations dedicated account established within the 
Department of Labor to allow for the expenditure of any revenues received from public and private sources to support 
the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations. 
Additional costs to the Departments of Labor, Education, Health and Human Services and Economic and Community 
Development to provide input to the commission can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0322(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1