An Act to Improve the Telecommunications Relay Services Council by Reducing Its Membership and Allowing for the Hiring of an Executive Director
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1065
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: PIERCE, ZEIGLER, HARRINGTON, FOSTER
Amends: 35-A MRSA §8704

Legislative Document
No. 1065
S.P. 434
In Senate, March 7, 2023
An Act to Improve the Telecommunications Relay Services Council 
by Reducing Its Membership and Allowing for the Hiring of an 
Executive Director
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative ZEIGLER of Montville and
Senator: HARRINGTON of York, Representative: FOSTER of Dexter.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §8704, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2017, c. 408, §6, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Membership.  The council consists of 12 10 members as follows:
A.  The Director of the Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened, 
Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Department of Labor, or a designee;
B.  The chair of the Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened 
established by Title 5, section 12004‑J, subsection 17, or a designee;
C.  One member from the Public Utilities Commission, appointed by the 
commissioners;
D.  One member from the office of the Public Advocate, appointed by the Public 
Advocate; and
E.  Eight Six members appointed by the Governor as follows:
(1)  One member from the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of 
Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf;
(2)  One member from a statewide association for the deaf;
(3)  One member from a disability rights organization in this State;
(4)  One member from the largest incumbent local exchange carrier providing 
telecommunications relay service in this State; and
(5)  One member of a telephone association in this State, except that the 
representative under this subparagraph may not be a representative of the carrier 
under subparagraph (4);
(6)  Two members from the general public who use telecommunications devices 
for the deaf that operate in connection with telecommunications relay services as 
their primary means of telecommunications; and.
(7)  One member representing a company that provides telecommunications relay 
services 
through 
the 
Internet, 
wireless 
telecommunications 
or 
cable 
telecommunications.
Sec. 2.  35-A MRSA §8704, sub-§9 is enacted to read:
9.  Executive director.  The council shall hire a part-time executive director, who shall 
assist in carrying out the powers and duties of the council, including by helping prepare the 
budget under subsection 6, preparing the report under subsection 8, assisting with contract 
negotiations and invoice processing and performing all other duties the council considers 
necessary to achieve the council's purposes.  The council may compensate the executive 
director.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the law governing the Telecommunications Relay Services Council 
to reduce the number of members appointed by the Governor from 8 to 6 by removing the 
member of a telephone association and the member representing a company that provides 
telecommunications relay services.  It also directs the council to hire a part-time executive 
director and allows the council to compensate the executive director.