reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
1 ME Rev Stat § 362 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 11: ACTS, RESOLVES AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS|Subchapter 3: REVISED STATUTES|1 §362. Supplements as part of Revised Statutes

 §362. Supplements as part of Revised Statutes The laws contained in any current pocket parts or supplements to the Revised Statutes, printed and published hereafter under contract or otherwise as may be authorized by law, shall constitute, prima facie, a part of the Revised Statutes if such laws, as so contained, purport to represent reproduction of statutory amendments of the Revised Statutes, as stated in accompanying notes thereto and are so certified by the Secretary of State. If any such pocket parts or supplements are printed and published on a cumulative basis, then only such laws contained in the latest publication thereof shall constitute, prima facie, a part of the Revised Statutes.   [PL 1965, c. 425, §1 (NEW).]SECTION HISTORY PL 1965, c. 425, §1 (NEW).
1 ME Rev Stat § 363 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 11: ACTS, RESOLVES AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS|Subchapter 3: REVISED STATUTES|1 §363. Secretary of State

 §363. Secretary of State To entitle any copy of a law published in the Revised Statutes of 1964 to be read in evidence, there shall be contained in the same book a printed certificate of the Secretary of State that such copy is a correct transcript of the text of the original laws. A facsimile of the signature of the Secretary of State imprinted by or at his direction upon such certificate shall have the same validity as his written signature.   [PL 1965, c. 425, §1 (NEW).]SECTION HISTORY PL 1965, c. 425, §1 (NEW).
1 ME Rev Stat § 400 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §400. Short title

 §400. Short title This subchapter may be known and cited as "the Freedom of Access Act."   [PL 2011, c. 662, §1 (NEW).]SECTION HISTORY PL 2011, c. 662, §1 (NEW).
1 ME Rev Stat § 401 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §401. Declaration of public policy; rules of construction

 §401. Declaration of public policy; rules of construction The Legislature finds and declares that public proceedings exist to aid in the conduct of the people's business. It is the intent of the Legislature that their actions be taken openly and that the records of their actions be open to public inspection and their deliberations be conducted openly. It is further the intent of the Legislature that clandestine meetings, conferences or meetings held on private property without proper notice and ample opportunity for attendance by the public not be used to defeat the purposes of this subchapter.   [PL 1975, c. 758 (RPR).]This subchapter does not prohibit communications outside of public proceedings between members of a public body unless those communications are used to defeat the purposes of this subchapter.   [PL 2011, c. 320, Pt. B, §1 (NEW).]This subchapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies as contained in the declaration of legislative intent.   [PL 1975, c. 758 (RPR).]SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 483, §1 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 758 (RPR). PL 2011, c. 320, Pt. B, §1 (AMD).
1 ME Rev Stat § 402-A (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §402-A. Public records defined (REPEALED)

 §402-A. Public records defined (REPEALED)SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 483, §3 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 623, §1 (RPR). PL 1975, c. 758 (RP).
1 ME Rev Stat § 403 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §403. Meetings to be open to public; record of meetings

 §403. Meetings to be open to public; record of meetings 1.  Proceedings open to public.  Except as otherwise provided by statute or by section 405, all public proceedings must be open to the public and any person must be permitted to attend a public proceeding.   [PL 2011, c. 320, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).] 2.  Record of public proceedings.  Unless otherwise provided by law, a record of each public proceeding for which notice is required under section 406 must be made within a reasonable period of time after the proceeding and must be open to public inspection. At a minimum, the record must include:   A. The date, time and place of the public proceeding;   [PL 2011, c. 320, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).]B. The members of the body holding the public proceeding recorded as either present or absent; and   [PL 2011, c. 320, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).]C. All motions and votes taken, by individual member, if there is a roll call.   [PL 2011, c. 320, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).][PL 2011, c. 320, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).] 3.  Audio or video recording.  An audio, video or other electronic recording of a public proceeding satisfies the requirements of subsection 2.   [PL 2011, c. 320, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).] 4.  Maintenance of record.  Record management requirements and retention schedules adopted under Title 5, chapter 6 apply to records required under this section.   [PL 2011, c. 320, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).] 5.  Validity of action.  The validity of any action taken in a public proceeding is not affected by the failure to make or maintain a record as required by this section.   [PL 2011, c. 320, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).] 6.  Advisory bodies exempt from record requirements.  Subsection 2 does not apply to advisory bodies that make recommendations but have no decision-making authority.   [PL 2011, c. 320, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1969, c. 293 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 422, §1 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 758 (RPR). PL 2009, c. 240, §1 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 320, Pt. C, §1 (RPR).
1 ME Rev Stat § 403-A (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §403-A. Public proceedings through remote access during declaration of state of emergency due to COVID-19 (WHOLE SECTION TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL CONTINGENCY: See T. 1, §403-A, sub-§3) (WHOLE SECTION TEXT REPEALED ON CONTINGENCY: See T. 1, §403-A, sub-§3)

 §403-A. Public proceedings through remote access during declaration of state of emergency due to COVID-19 (CONTAINS TEXT WITH VARYING EFFECTIVE DATES)(WHOLE SECTION TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL CONTINGENCY: See T. 1, §403-A, sub-§3)(WHOLE SECTION TEXT REPEALED ON CONTINGENCY: See T. 1, §403-A, sub-§3)1.  Remote access.  Notwithstanding any provision of law or municipal charter provision or ordinance to the contrary, during a state of emergency declared by the Governor in accordance with Title 37‑B, section 742 due to the outbreak of COVID-19, a body subject to this subchapter may conduct a public proceeding through telephonic, video, electronic or other similar means of remote participation under the following conditions:   A. Notice of the public proceeding has been given in accordance with section 406, and the notice includes the method by which the public may attend in accordance with paragraph C;   [PL 2019, c. 617, Pt. G, §1 (NEW).]B. Each member of the body who is participating in the public proceeding is able to hear and speak to all the other members during the public proceeding and members of the public attending the public proceeding in the location identified in the notice given pursuant to paragraph A are able to hear all members participating at other locations;   [PL 2019, c. 617, Pt. G, §1 (NEW).]C. The body determines that participation by the public is through telephonic, video, electronic or other similar means of remote participation; and   [PL 2019, c. 617, Pt. G, §1 (NEW).]D. All votes taken during the public proceeding are taken by roll call vote.   [PL 2019, c. 617, Pt. G, §1 (NEW).][PL 2019, c. 617, Pt. G, §1 (NEW).] 2.  Application to legislative proceedings.  This section does not apply to public proceedings of the Legislature, a legislative committee or the Legislative Council, except that while the state of emergency as set out in subsection 1 is in effect, the Legislature, a legislative committee or the Legislative Council may restrict attendance by the public to remote access by telephonic, video, electronic or other similar means. This section also does not apply to town meetings held pursuant to Title 30‑A, section 2524 or regional school unit budget meetings pursuant to Title 20‑A, section 1483.   [PL 2019, c. 617, Pt. G, §1 (NEW).] 3.  Repeal.  This section is repealed 30 days after the termination of the state of emergency as set out in subsection 1.   [PL 2019, c. 617, Pt. G, §1 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 2019, c. 617, Pt. G, §1 (NEW).
1 ME Rev Stat § 404 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §404. Recorded or live broadcasts authorized

 §404. Recorded or live broadcasts authorized In order to facilitate the public policy so declared by the Legislature of opening the public's business to public scrutiny, all persons shall be entitled to attend public proceedings and to make written, taped or filmed records of the proceedings, or to live broadcast the same, provided the writing, taping, filming or broadcasting does not interfere with the orderly conduct of proceedings. The body or agency holding the public proceedings may make reasonable rules and regulations governing these activities, so long as these rules or regulations do not defeat the purpose of this subchapter.   [PL 1975, c. 758 (RPR).]SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 422, §2 (RPR). PL 1975, c. 483, §4 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 758 (RPR).
1 ME Rev Stat § 404-A (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §404-A. Decisions (REPEALED)

 §404-A. Decisions (REPEALED)SECTION HISTORY PL 1973, c. 433, §2 (NEW). PL 1973, c. 704, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 758 (RP).
1 ME Rev Stat § 405-A (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §405-A. Recorded or live broadcasts authorized (REPEALED)

 §405-A. Recorded or live broadcasts authorized (REPEALED)SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 483, §5 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 758 (RP).
1 ME Rev Stat § 405-B (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §405-B. Appeals (REPEALED)

 §405-B. Appeals (REPEALED)SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 483, §5 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 758 (RP).
1 ME Rev Stat § 405-C (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §405-C. Appeals from actions (REPEALED)

 §405-C. Appeals from actions (REPEALED)SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 483, §5 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 758 (RP).
1 ME Rev Stat § 406 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §406. Public notice

 §406. Public notice Public notice shall be given for all public proceedings as defined in section 402, if these proceedings are a meeting of a body or agency consisting of 3 or more persons. This notice shall be given in ample time to allow public attendance and shall be disseminated in a manner reasonably calculated to notify the general public in the jurisdiction served by the body or agency concerned. In the event of an emergency meeting, local representatives of the media shall be notified of the meeting, whenever practical, the notification to include time and location, by the same or faster means used to notify the members of the agency conducting the public proceeding.   [PL 1987, c. 477, §4 (AMD).]SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 483, §6 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 758 (RPR). PL 1987, c. 477, §4 (AMD).
1 ME Rev Stat § 407 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §407. Decisions

 §407. Decisions 1.  Conditional approval or denial.  Every agency shall make a written record of every decision involving the conditional approval or denial of an application, license, certificate or any other type of permit. The agency shall set forth in the record the reason or reasons for its decision and make finding of the fact, in writing, sufficient to appraise the applicant and any interested member of the public of the basis for the decision. A written record or a copy thereof shall be kept by the agency and made available to any interested member of the public who may wish to review it.   [PL 1975, c. 758 (NEW).] 2.  Dismissal or refusal to renew contract.  Every agency shall make a written record of every decision involving the dismissal or the refusal to renew the contract of any public official, employee or appointee. The agency shall, except in case of probationary employees, set forth in the record the reason or reasons for its decision and make findings of fact, in writing, sufficient to apprise the individual concerned and any interested member of the public of the basis for the decision. A written record or a copy thereof must be kept by the agency and made available to any interested member of the public who may wish to review it.   [PL 2009, c. 240, §3 (AMD).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 758 (NEW). PL 2009, c. 240, §3 (AMD).
1 ME Rev Stat § 408 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §408. Public records available for public inspection and copying (REPEALED)

 §408. Public records available for public inspection and copying (REPEALED)SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 758 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 709, §2 (RPR). PL 2007, c. 501, §1 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 240, §4 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 662, §4 (RP).
1 ME Rev Stat § 409 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §409. Appeals

 §409. Appeals 1.  Records.  Any person aggrieved by a refusal or denial to inspect or copy a record or the failure to allow the inspection or copying of a record under section 408‑A may appeal the refusal, denial or failure within 30 calendar days of the receipt of the written notice of refusal, denial or failure to the Superior Court within the State for the county where the person resides or the agency has its principal office. The agency or official shall file a statement of position explaining the basis for denial within 14 calendar days of service of the appeal. If a court, after a review, with taking of testimony and other evidence as determined necessary, determines such refusal, denial or failure was not for just and proper cause, the court shall enter an order for disclosure. Appeals may be advanced on the docket and receive priority over other cases when the court determines that the interests of justice so require.   [PL 2015, c. 249, §2 (AMD).] 2.  Actions.  If any body or agency approves any ordinances, orders, rules, resolutions, regulations, contracts, appointments or other official action in an executive session, this action is illegal and the officials responsible are subject to the penalties hereinafter provided. Upon learning of any such action, any person may appeal to any Superior Court in the State. If a court, after a trial de novo, determines this action was taken illegally in an executive session, it shall enter an order providing for the action to be null and void. Appeals may be advanced on the docket and receive priority over other cases when the court determines that the interests of justice so require.   [PL 2011, c. 559, Pt. A, §2 (AMD).] 3.  Proceedings not exclusive.  The proceedings authorized by this section are not exclusive of any other civil remedy provided by law.   [PL 2009, c. 240, §6 (AMD).] 4.  Attorney’s fees.  In an appeal under subsection 1 or 2, the court may award reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation expenses to the substantially prevailing plaintiff who appealed the refusal under subsection 1 or the illegal action under subsection 2 if the court determines that the refusal or illegal action was committed in bad faith. Attorney’s fees and litigation costs may not be awarded to or against a federally recognized Indian tribe.   This subsection applies to appeals under subsection 1 or 2 filed on or after January 1, 2010.   [PL 2009, c. 423, §1 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 758 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 477, §5 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. C, §1 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 240, §§5, 6 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 423, §1 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 559, Pt. A, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 662, §6 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 350, §3 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 249, §2 (AMD).
1 ME Rev Stat § 410 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §410. Violations

 §410. Violations 1.  Civil violation.  An officer or employee of a state government agency or local government entity who willfully violates this subchapter commits a civil violation.   [PL 2019, c. 247, §1 (NEW).] 2.  Penalties.  A state government agency or local government entity whose officer or employee commits a civil violation described in subsection 1 is subject to:   A. A fine of not more than $500 for a civil violation described in subsection 1;   [PL 2019, c. 247, §1 (NEW).]B. A fine of not more than $1,000 for a civil violation described in subsection 1 that was committed not more than 4 years after a previous adjudication of a civil violation described in subsection 1 by an officer or employee of the same state government agency or local government entity; or   [PL 2019, c. 247, §1 (NEW).]C. A fine of not more than $2,000 for a civil violation described in subsection 1 that was committed not more than 4 years after 2 or more previous adjudications of a civil violation described in subsection 1 by an officer or employee of the same state government agency or local government entity.   [PL 2019, c. 247, §1 (NEW).][PL 2019, c. 247, §1 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 758 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 477, §6 (RPR). PL 2019, c. 247, §1 (RPR).
1 ME Rev Stat § 413 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §413. Public access officer

 §413. Public access officer 1.  Designation; responsibility.  Each agency, county, municipality, school administrative unit and regional or other political subdivision shall designate an existing employee as its public access officer to serve as the contact person for that agency, county, municipality, school administrative unit or regional or other political subdivision with regard to requests for public records under this subchapter. The public access officer is responsible for ensuring that each public record request is acknowledged within 5 working days of the receipt of the request by the office responsible for maintaining the public record requested and that a good faith estimate of when the response to the request will be complete is provided according to section 408-A. The public access officer shall serve as a resource within the agency, county, municipality, school administrative unit and regional or other political subdivision concerning freedom of access questions and compliance.   [PL 2015, c. 317, §2 (AMD).] 2.  Acknowledgment and response required.  An agency, county, municipality, school administrative unit and regional or other political subdivision that receives a request to inspect or copy a public record shall acknowledge and respond to the request regardless of whether the request was delivered to or directed to the public access officer.   [PL 2011, c. 662, §8 (NEW).] 3.  No delay based on unavailability.  The unavailability of a public access officer may not delay a response to a request.   [PL 2011, c. 662, §8 (NEW).] 4.  Training.  A public access officer shall complete a course of training on the requirements of this chapter relating to public records and proceedings as described in section 412.   [PL 2011, c. 662, §8 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 2011, c. 662, §8 (NEW). PL 2015, c. 317, §2 (AMD).
1 ME Rev Stat § 414 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1: FREEDOM OF ACCESS|1 §414. Public records; information technology

 §414. Public records; information technology An agency shall consider, in the purchase of and contracting for computer software and other information technology resources, the extent to which the software or technology will:   [PL 2011, c. 662, §8 (NEW).]1.  Maximize public access.  Maximize public access to public records; and   [PL 2011, c. 662, §8 (NEW).] 2.  Maximize exportability; protect confidential information.  Maximize the exportability of public records while protecting confidential information that may be part of public records.   [PL 2011, c. 662, §8 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 2011, c. 662, §8 (NEW).
1 ME Rev Stat § 431 (2021)
2021 Maine Revised Statutes|TITLE 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS|Chapter 13: PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS|Subchapter 1-A: PUBLIC RECORDS EXCEPTIONS AND ACCESSIBILITY|1 §431. Definitions

 §431. Definitions As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.   [PL 2003, c. 709, §3 (NEW).]1.  Public records exception.  "Public records exception" or "exception" means a provision in a statute or a proposed statute that declares a record or a category of records to be confidential or otherwise not a public record for purposes of subchapter 1.   [PL 2003, c. 709, §3 (NEW).] 2.  Review committee.  "Review committee" means the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters.   [PL 2003, c. 709, §3 (NEW).] 3.  Advisory committee.  "Advisory committee" means the Right To Know Advisory Committee established in Title 5, section 12004‑J, subsection 14 and described in section 411.   [PL 2005, c. 631, §2 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 2003, c. 709, §3 (NEW). PL 2005, c. 631, §2 (AMD).