An Act to Strengthen
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0127
Committee Amendment CA_B_S631 (Senate)
Amends: 3 MRSA §995, 3 MRSA §997

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "h " to S.P. 55, L.D. 127, "An Act to Strengthen
Legislative Oversight of Governmbrrt Agencies and Programs by Reaffirming the
Legislature's Access to Confidential Records"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following;
'An Act to Establish the Government Oversight Committee's Access to Confidential
Materials*
Amend the bill by striking out all of the emergency preamble,
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
following;
'See. 1. 3 MRSA §995, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 702, §2, is amended to
read:
2, Duties, The director shall supervise the staff of the office in accordance with
policies adopted by the committee and consistent with the policies of the Legislative
Council. The director shall prepare and present a biennial budget to the committee for its
approval. Money appropriated or allocated to the office must be expended in the discretion
of the director and the committee only. The director shall prepare and present a biennial
5 briefme to the committee on the confidentiality and nondisclosure oolicies. standards and
Di'ocedures that the office adheres to when conducting program evaluations under this
chapter. The director also shall prepare and present an annual work plan to the committee
for its consideration and approval. The director also may contract with private individuals
or entities for the conduct of program evaluations under this chapter. The director may
request the committee to issue subpoenas.
Sec. 2. 3 MRSA §997, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2001, o. 702, §2, is amended to
read;
2. Submission of final report to committee. The director shall notify the committee
when each final program evaluation report under this chapter is completed. The report
must then be placed on the agenda for a future committee meeting. At the meeting where
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^0<0
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ^»" to S.P. 55, L.D, 127C->-1
a report appears on the agenda for the first time, the director wUl shall release that report
to the committee and to the public simultaneously, except that the director may share a
confidential copy of the final report with the committee prior to its public release afterjhe
review and resuonse period of the evaluated aeencv or other entity is completed pursuant
to_ subsection 1. Tlie committee shall treat the copy of the final report as confidential until
it is released to the public by the director. The committee, at its discretion, may vote to
endorse, to endorse in part or to decline to endorse the report submitted by the director. If
the committee determines it is necessary, the committee may report out to the Legislature
legislation to implement the findings and recommendations of any program evaluation
report presented to it by the office.'
Amend die bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill and changes the title. The amendment requires the
Director of the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability to prepare
and present a biennial briefing to the Government Oversight Committee on the
confidentiality and nondisclosure policies, standards and procedures that the office adheres
to when conducting program evaluations. The amendment also permits the director to share
a confidential copy of a program evaluation report with the committee prior to its public
release but not before the review and response period of the evaluated agency or other
entity is completed. The amendment also removes the emergency preamble and emergency
clause,
FISCAL NOTE REQIURED
(See attached)
Page2-132LR005I(03)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved; 03/19/26 i-Ki-
LD 127 LR 51(03)
An Act to Strengthen Legislative Oversight of Government Agencies and Programs by Reaffirming
the Legislature's Access to Confidential Records
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment1^1 /" 5 .(^2>r
Committee! Judiciary
Fiscal Note Required; Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Any additional costs to the Legislature's Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability are expected
to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR0051(03). Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1