An Act To Amend the Finance Authority of Maine Act To Allow for Remote Meetings
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1854
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: CURRY
Amends: 10 MRSA §971

Legislative Document
No. 1854
S.P. 606
In Senate, January 5, 2022
An Act To Amend the Finance Authority of Maine Act To Allow for 
Remote Meetings
(EMERGENCY)
Submitted by the Finance Authority of Maine pursuant to Joint Rule 203.
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator CURRY of Waldo.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, Public Law 2021, chapter 290, An Act Regarding Remote Participation in 
Public Proceedings, does not apply to public bodies such as the Finance Authority of Maine 
to which specific statutory provisions for remote participation already apply; and
Whereas, the Finance Authority of Maine prefers to have the new law apply to its 
proceedings instead of the older, more limited statute governing emergency board meetings 
in certain cases; and
Whereas, there is a need to have in place a law that governs remote participation in 
public proceedings of the Finance Authority of Maine after the termination of the state of 
emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 37-B, 
section 742 in response to the public health emergency caused by the spread of the novel 
coronavirus disease referred to as COVID-19; and
Whereas, members of the Finance Authority of Maine inhabit various parts of the 
State and may need or wish, based on public health or other considerations such as severe 
weather, to conduct business remotely as soon as possible; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA §971, as amended by PL 1995, c. 117, Pt. C, §1, is further 
amended to read:
§971.  Actions of the members
Seven members of the authority constitute a quorum of the members.  The affirmative 
vote of the greater of 5 members, present and voting, or a majority of those members 
present and voting is necessary for any action taken by the members.  No A vacancy in the 
membership of the authority may does not impair the right of the quorum to exercise all 
powers and perform all duties of the members.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in a situation determined by the chief 
executive officer to be an emergency requiring action of the members on not more than 3 
days' oral notice, an emergency meeting of the members may be conducted by telephone 
in accordance with the following.
1.  Placement of call.  A conference call to the members must be placed by ordinary 
commercial means at an appointed time.
2.  Record of call.  The authority shall arrange for recordation of the conference call 
when appropriate and prepare minutes of the emergency meeting.
3.  Notice of emergency meeting.  Public notice of the emergency meeting must be 
given in accordance with Title 1, section 406 and that public notice must include the time 
of the meeting and the location of a telephone with a speakerphone attachment that enables 
all persons participating in the telephone meeting to be heard and understood and that is 
available for members of the public to hear the business conducted at the telephone 
meeting.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill strikes the current provisions in law governing certain emergency meetings of 
the Finance Authority of Maine, thereby making the remote meetings provisions of Public 
Law 2021, chapter 290 applicable to the authority.