An Act Related to the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0861
Committee Amendment CA_B_H477 (House)
Amends: 35-A MRSA §124, 35-A MRSA §1715

COJv1MITTEE AMENDMENT"/) "to H.P. 547, L.D. 861, "An Act Related to the 
Work ofthePublicAdvocate" 
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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act to Prohibit the Public Advocate and a Commissioner of the Public Utilities 
Commission from Certain Employment Activities Following Service' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §124 is enacted to read: 
§124. Post-term employment restrictions;. commissioners 
1. Definition. As used in this section, "employment" means any full-time or part-time 
work performed for compensation and includes, but is not limited to, consulting and 
membership on a board. 
2. Prohibitions. An individual serving as a commissioner on or appointed to serve as 
a commissioner on or after December 15, 2025 may not, until 60 months after the 
completion of the commissioner's service in accordance with section 105, subsection 2: 
A. Solicit employment with or accept employment from a public utility in the State: or 
B. Appear before the commission for compensation in a commission proceeding on 
behalf of a person. 
3. Penalties. An individual who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty not to 
exceed $10,000 per occurrence, payable to the State. 
4. Enforcement. The Office of the Attomey General may investigate alleged violations 
of this section and bring an action for a violation of this section. 
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §1715 is enacted to read: 
§1715. Post-term employment 1·estrictions 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
?-.OS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" .g .. to H.P. 547, L.D. 861 
1. Definition. As used in this section. "employment" means any full-time or part-time 
work performed for compensation and includes, but is not limited to, consulting and 
membership on a board. 
2. Certain employment prohibited. An individual serving as the Public Advocate on 
or appointed to serve as the Public Advocate on or after December 15, 2025 may not, until 
months after the completion of the Public Advocate's service in accordance with section 
1701, subsection 1-A: 
A. Solicit employment with or accept employment from a public utility in the State; or 
B. Appear before the commission for compensation in a commission proceeding on 
behalf of a person. other than a state agency or quasi-independent state entity. if that 
person was a party to an adjudicatory proceeding in which the Public Advocate was a 
patty during the Public Advocate's term of service. 
3. Penalties. An individual who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty not to 
exceed $10,000 per occurrence. payable to the State. 
4. Enforcement. The Office of the Attorney General may investigate alleged violations 
of this section and bring an action for a violation of this section.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is a minority report of the committee, replaces the bill, which 
is a concept draft, and changes the title. It prohibits the Public Advocate or a commissioner 
of the Public Utilities Commission serving on or appointed on or after December 15, 2025, 
until 60 months after the completion of the Public Advocate's or commissioner's service, 
from soliciting or accepting employment from a public utility. It also prohibits, until 60 
months after the completion of service, a commissioner from appearing before the 
commission in a proceeding for compensation and the Public Advocate from appearing 
before the commission in a proceeding for compensation on behalf of a person, other than 
a state agency or quasi-independent state entity, if that person was a party to an adjudicatory 
proceeding in which the Public Advocate was a party during the Public Advocate's term of 
service. The amendment provides that the law is enforced by the Office of the Attorney 
General and an individual who violates the law is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed 
$10,000 per occurrence. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/27/25 LRL 
LD 861 
LR 2150(03) 
An Act Related to the Work of the Public Advocate 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment :f;, { H-1/ 7 7) 
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
This bill may increase the number of civil suits filed in the court system. The additional workload associated with the 
minimal number of new cases does not require additional funding at this time. The collection of additional fines and 
filing fees will increase General Fund or other dedicated revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Public Utilities Commission and the Office of the Attorney General from the provisions of 
this bill are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2150(03) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1