An Act to Amend the Membership of the Maine-Canadian Legislative Advisory Commission and the New England and Eastern Canada Legislative Commission (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1939
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: BENNETT
Amends: 3 MRSA §227, 3 MRSA §231

Legislative Document
No. 1939
S.P. 788
In Senate, May 16, 2023
An Act to Amend the Membership of the Maine-Canadian 
Legislative Advisory Commission and the New England and Eastern 
Canada Legislative Commission
(AFTER DEADLINE)
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BENNETT of Oxford.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the Maine-Canadian Legislative Advisory Commission and the New 
England and Eastern Canada Legislative Commission have not met recently and have a 
backlog of business to address; and
Whereas, making new appointments to the Maine-Canadian Legislative Advisory 
Commission and the New England and Eastern Canada Legislative Commission will cause 
the commissions to meet and act on unfinished business; 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.  3 MRSA §227, as corrected by RR 1991, c. 1, §1, is amended to read:
§227.  Maine-Canadian Legislative Advisory Commission
The Maine-Canadian Legislative Advisory Commission, as authorized by Title 5, 
section 12004‑K, subsection 10, shall consist consists of 8 12 members, all of whom shall 
must be citizens of this State. The Speaker of the House shall appoint 4 6 members, 2 for a 
term of one year and 2 4 who must be members of the House of Representatives and who 
shall each hold office from the date of appointment until the term of election to the 
Legislature expires. The President of the Senate shall appoint 4 6 members, 2 for a term of 
one year and 2 4 who must be Senators and who shall each hold office from the date of 
appointment until the term of election to the Legislature expires. At least one member 
appointed by the President of the Senate and one member appointed by the Speaker of the 
House shall must be fluent in the French language. The members appointed must equally 
represent the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature. In the event 
of the death or resignation of any member, the vacancy shall must be filled for the 
remainder of the term in the same manner as the original appointment.
Members shall must be compensated as provided in Title 5, chapter 379. Four Six 
members shall constitute a quorum. The commission shall designate one of its members as 
chairman chair.
Sec. 2.  3 MRSA §231, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2019, c. 475, §24, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Commission.  The New England and Eastern Canada Legislative Commission, as 
established by Title 5, section 12004‑K, subsection 11, and in this chapter called "the 
"commission," consists of 4 8 members from Maine, together with the same number of 
members appointed according to the laws of each of the other member jurisdictions.
Sec. 3.  3 MRSA §231, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2019, c. 475, §24, is further 
amended to read:
2.  Membership.  The members of the commission from Maine are the 2 4 Senators 
and the 2 4 members of the House of Representatives who are appointed to the Maine-
Canadian Legislative Advisory Commission pursuant to section 227.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill increases the membership of the Maine-Canadian Legislative Advisory 
Commission and the New England and Eastern Canada Legislative Commission and 
requires the members to equally represent each of the 2 parties holding the largest number 
of seats in the Legislature.