Resolve, to Add Members to the Maine Semiquincentennial Commission and Set the Compensation Rate for Commission Members
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2145
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: SACHS, CURRY, DANA, HEPLER, STOVER, TALBOT ROSS, BAILEY, PIERCE

Legislative Document
No. 2145
H.P. 1369
House of Representatives, January 3, 2024
Resolve, to Add Members to the Maine Semiquincentennial 
Commission and Set the Compensation Rate for Commission 
Members
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SACHS of Freeport.
Cosponsored by Senator CURRY of Waldo and
Representatives: DANA of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, HEPLER of Woolwich, STOVER of 
Boothbay, Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland, Senators: BAILEY of York, PIERCE of 
Cumberland.
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 Semiquincentennial Commission was established by Resolve 
2023, chapter 126 to develop and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary 
of the founding of the United States of America; and
Whereas, the commission lacks sufficient representation by federally recognized 
Indian nations, tribes and bands in the State, the Franco-American community, the African 
American community, state Legislators and members of the public; and
Whereas, current reimbursement for commission members does not sufficiently 
accommodate and reimburse commission members for their time; and
Whereas, the Secretary of State has convened the commission and the commission 
has begun to carry out its duties; 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
Sec. 1.  Resolve 2023, c. 126, §2, amended. Resolved: That Resolve 2023, c. 
126, §2 is amended to read:
Sec. 2.  Commission membership. Resolved: That the commission consists of 15 
members as follows:
1. The Secretary of State, or the Secretary of State's designee;
2. The State Historian, or the State Historian's designee;
3. The Chair of the Maine State Cultural Affairs Council, or the chair's designee;
4. The State Archivist, or the State Archivist's designee;
5. The Director of the Maine State Museum, or the director's designee;
6. The State Librarian, or the State Librarian's designee;
7. A representative of a statewide organization to promote tourism in the State, 
appointed by the President of the Senate;
8. A representative of a statewide organization that promotes arts and culture in the 
State, appointed by the President of the Senate;
9. A representative of a history museum or historical society, appointed by the Speaker 
of the House;
10. A representative of a statewide humanities organization that uses humanities as a 
tool for positive change in the State's communities, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
11. A representative of a statewide organization that promotes and enhances the value 
of Maine libraries, appointed by the Secretary of State;
12. A representative of the historic preservation profession, appointed by the Secretary 
of State;
13. A representative of prekindergarten to grade 12 education and adult education, 
appointed by the Governor;
14. A representative of local government, appointed by the Governor; and
15. One member, appointed by the Speaker of the House, who is a member of a 
federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or band in the State based on the joint 
recommendation of the tribal governments of the Mi'kmaq Nation, the Houlton Band of 
Maliseet Indians, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk, the Passamaquoddy Tribe 
at Sipayik and the Penobscot Nation. If these tribal governments do not make a unanimous 
joint recommendation, the Speaker of the House shall appoint a member of a federally 
recognized Indian nation, tribe or band in the State and rotate the appointment among each 
federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or band in the State in accordance with section 3. 
16. A representative of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, recommended by the 
Chief of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, to be appointed by the Speaker of the 
House;
17. A representative of the Mi'kmaq Nation, recommended by the Chief of the Mi'kmaq 
Nation, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House;
18. A representative of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk, recommended by 
the Chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk, to be appointed by the Speaker 
of the House;
19.  A representative of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik, recommended by the 
Chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
20.  A representative of the Penobscot Nation, recommended by the Chief of the 
Penobscot Nation, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
21.  A representative of a state-based organization that promotes Franco-American 
culture in the State, appointed by the President of the Senate;
22.  A representative of a state-based organization that promotes multigenerational 
African American culture in the State, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
23.  One member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
24.  One member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House;
25.  One member of the public, appointed by the President of the Senate; and
26.  One member of the public, appointed by the Speaker of the House.
In addition to the 15 25 members under this section, the Governor, the President of the 
Senate and the Speaker of the House serve as ex officio members of the commission.
In appointing members of the commission, the appointing authorities shall give 
consideration to race, gender, socioeconomic diversity and geographic diversity.
Sec. 2.  Resolve 2023, c. 126, §3, amended. Resolved:  That Resolve 2023, c. 
126, §3 is amended to read:
Sec. 3.  Appointment terms. Resolved: That appointed members are appointed 
for terms that expire December 31, 2026; a vacancy is filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment. If the member who represents a federally recognized Indian nation, 
tribe or band in the State appointed under section 2, subsection 15 is not the unanimous 
joint recommendation of the tribal governments, the member appointed serves coincident 
with the term of the Legislature during which the member was appointed but may continue 
to serve until the member's replacement is appointed. The Speaker of the House, in making 
subsequent appointments under section 2, subsection 15, shall rotate the appointment 
among each federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or band in the State.
Sec. 3.  Resolve 2023, c. 126, §4, amended. Resolved:  That Resolve 2023, c. 
126, §4 is amended to read:
Sec. 4. Appointments; chair; convening of commission; advisory council. 
Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the 
effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Secretary of State 
once all appointments have been completed. When appointment of all members is 
complete, the Secretary of State shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission 
no later than December 1, 2023. The Secretary of State shall name 5 members to constitute 
an executive committee, which shall act as chair of the commission. The Secretary of State, 
with advice from the commission, also may appoint honorary members and shall establish 
an advisory council composed of people who are especially interested in the celebration of 
the United States Semiquincentennial consisting of nonvoting members of the public to 
seek input on decisions made or considered by the commission.
Sec. 4.  Resolve 2023, c. 126, §8, amended.  Resolved:  That Resolve 2023, c. 
126, §8 is amended to read:
Sec. 8.  Expenses; compensation. Resolved: That the executive committee 
established under section 4 shall draft a commission budget and may pay necessary 
expenses of the commission from the fund established under section 12. The Secretary of 
State may request additional appropriations from the Legislature for necessary expenses of 
the commission.
Members of the commission are eligible to receive a legislative per diem as defined in 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12002, subsection 3. Pursuant to Title 5, section 
12002-B, legislative per diem may only be paid for a member’s actual attendance at a 
meeting of the commission, a public hearing held by the commission, an advisory board 
meeting held by the commission or participation in official business of the commission 
required by law or by rule of the commission that is necessary to fulfill the statutory 
responsibilities of the commission. 
Members may only be compensated up to a maximum of 4 meetings per month.  This 
section may not be interpreted to be inconsistent with the conflict of interest provisions in 
The Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 18-A.
Sec. 5.  Resolve 2023, c. 126, §9, repealed.  Resolved:  That Resolve 2023, c. 
126, §9 is repealed.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This resolve amends Resolve 2023, chapter 126 by adding additional members to the 
Maine Semiquincentennial Commission representing federally recognized Indian nations, 
tribes and bands in the State, Franco-American culture, African American culture, state 
Legislators and members of the public. The resolve also amends the compensation for 
commission members to receive the legislative per diem rate.