Code of Maine Rules › 94 - INDEPENDENT AGENCIES › 270 - COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS AND ELECTION PRACTICES › Chapter 1 - PROCEDURES › Section 270-1-3 - MEETINGS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
1.
Regular Meetings
. The
				Commission shall meet at least once each month in any year in which primary and
				general elections are held. The Commission's Director shall circulate proposed
				meeting dates to the Commission for its approval.
2.
Special Meetings
. The
				Commission may meet at any time at the call of the Secretary of State, the
				President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
				Chairman of the Commission, or a majority of its members. Each member of the
				Commission must have at least 24 hours notice of the time, place and purpose of
				the meeting in writing unless written notice is not possible. In such case,
				notice must be given by the staff by phone, fax, e-mail or other means
				available. Each Commissioner may notify the staff of his or her preference for
				notification and the staff shall prepare a log of its actions in notifying
				Commissioners.
3.
Agenda
. The Director will prepare a written agenda for each
				meeting of the Commission. The agenda will contain items of business to be
				considered, staff findings and recommendations, and will include the date, time
				and location of the meeting. The agenda must be mailed to each Commissioner at
				least 7 days before the meeting unless a different schedule is approved by the
				Chair who shall provide notice to the Commissioners of the change and the
				reasons therefore.
4.
Notice
. In addition to the public notice required by the public
				meetings law,
				1 M.R.S.A.
				§406, notice of Commission meetings
				shall be given to those directly involved in a matter pending before the
				Commission, as follows:
A.
Legislative
				Ethics
. When a properly filed request or referral is made for an
				advisory opinion on a question of legislative ethics, notice that the matter
				has been placed on the agenda for a Commission meeting will be given by mail to
				the Legislator whose circumstances or conduct is at issue, or to the Presiding
				Officer of either House referring the inquiry. When a complaint alleging a
				violation of the laws on legislative ethics is filed, the Legislator will be
				informed promptly of the nature of the allegations and the existence of any
				investigation by the Commission. Notice that the matter has been placed on the
				agenda for a Commission hearing will be given by certified mail to both the
				Legislator and the complainant not less than 10 days before the date set for a
				hearing.
B.
Campaign Reports
				and Finances Law; Lobbyist Disclosure Law
. Notice of the Commission's
				consideration of any noncompliance with the requirements of the
Campaign Reports and Finances Law
, the
Maine Clean
				Election Act
, or
Lobbyist Disclosure Law
will be
				provided to any person or organization alleged to have committed a violation
				and to any person who has officially requested a Commission investigation or
				determination, except that notice of the Commission's consideration of issuing
				subpoenas to conduct an investigation need not be given.
C.
Contents of Notice
(1) The notice will include the date, time,
				and location of the Commission meeting. If mail notice of a meeting is not
				feasible, the staff will make best efforts to give oral notice to Commission
				members or to those entitled to notice under this provision.