Legislative Bulletin
February 12,1999

EXECUTIVE SESSION ABUSES ALLEGED

On Wednesday, as the U.S. Senate sat behind closed doors, the Judiciary Committee held public hearings on two bills dealing with the section of Maine’s Right to Know law dealing with executive sessions. Both bills are being sponsored by Rep. Kevin Glynn (South Portland).

LD 205, An Act to Require Electronic Recording of Closed Sessions of Public Bodies, would require that all governmental boards record their executive sessions electronically or by videotape. All persons with a right to attend the executive session would be entitled to review the tape, and the agency or board would have to disclose the tape pursuant to a court order. A majority of the board could also vote to release the tape to the general public unless the executive session was required for reasons of confidentiality. Any member of the agency or board who disclosed the recording without authority would be subject to a civil violation and financial penalty.

Rep. Glynn testified that on the basis of his experience on the South Portland City Counsel for nine years, the executive session process is subject to being misused, primarily when municipal or school boards go into executive session for vague reasons. According to Glynn, the boards sometimes get behind closed doors and enter into discussions about a variety of subjects that were not specifically described as matters for discussion in the open session. According to Rep. Glynn, this practice of getting "off topic" would be greatly reduced if every executive session was electronically recorded and subject to review by the courts and certain third parties. The Maine Press Association also testified in support of the bill.

MMA testified in opposition to the bill for its costs (taping the sessions, storing the tapes, hosting the review sessions, etc.), for not being necessary, and because of the fundamental inadvisability of creating a formal record with respect to the executive session discussions dealing with private, confidential and sensitive information that, if released, could damage a person’s reputation or violate privacy rights. Several elements of the bill didn’t seem workable, such as the entitlement of certain third parties to view the tapes (when they are already entitled to attend the session) and the release of the taped session on a political vote.

The Right to Know law is an act of balance between the public’s right to know, a governmental right not to be disadvantaged in certain arms-length transactions, and the rights of individuals to confidence and privacy with respect to certain dealings with the town. The administration of the Right to Know law takes a good deal of judgment and as is the case with any job that takes judgment, it is very easy to be second-guessed. What it all boils down to is the level of trust people have with their elected boards.

A representative of the Workers’ Compensation Board and the Maine School Management Association also spoke in opposition to LD 205.

Rep. Glynn’s other executive session bill, LD 437, An Act to Clarify the Law Regarding Executive Sessions of Public Bodies, would establish that before a board goes into executive session to discuss a labor negotiation, the parties to that discussion must be named and before a board goes into executive session to discuss pending litigation, the name of the case must be cited.

Also, and much more significantly, the bill eliminates one of the reasons why a board can go into executive session to consult with the municipal attorney. Under current law, a board can have a behind-closed-doors discussion with its attorney with respect to "matters concerning the legal rights and duties of the board." As is the case with any executive session, no action can be taken behind closed doors. It’s an information exchange.

LD 437 would eliminate that category, generally, and only allow it with regard to contemplated or pending litigation. As a consequence, if a board wanted to discuss with its attorney a matter of contract administration in order to determine what the impact would be if the town took a certain action as a party to the contract, it would not be able to have that discussion except in open session. For the many labor contracts, service contracts, and construction contracts that a municipality might administer, it would very difficult to explore the impact of taking certain actions in open session. In this country, every person and legal entity has the right to confidential legal counsel with respect to their rights and obligations, but LD 437 would remove the right of a governmental board to confidential counsel with respect to contract administration and other legally significant obligations. MMA opposed the bill for its effective prohibition on consultations between boards and attorneys regarding significant legal questions.

Rep. Glynn and the Maine Press Association spoke in favor of the bill. In the "neither for nor against" category, Rep. Joanne Twomey (Biddeford) said that her experience as a Biddeford City Counselor for six years has led her to believe that the Right to Know law is being "chipped away". Rep. Twomey said that executive session discussions occurred in her tenure as a councilor that she did not believe were appropriate..

The work sessions on LDs 205 and 437 have not been scheduled.

 STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR ROADS

Nearly three-fourths of Maine citizens believe that the State Legislature should ensure that the state's road system is adequately maintained, that the state's roads and bridges need more maintenance and repair, and that the state should maximize federal highway funding dollars.

These results, from a poll conducted last month by The Potholm Group, should give the Governor, legislators and others supporting an increase in highway funding some level of comfort in knowing that Maine citizens recognize the deficiencies in Maine's highways and bridges and support some effort to rectify the situation.

The poll was commissioned by the Transportation Funding Coalition of which MMA is a member. The poll surveyed 400 Maine adults. The margin of error for the study is a plus or minus 1/2 percent.

Respondents to the poll gave the following responses:

• 73% supported the notion that the Legislature should act to make sure that the state's road system is adequately maintained;

• 70% believed that the state's roads and bridges need more in the way of maintenance and repair than they are currently getting;

• 75% felt that the State of Maine should attempt to maximize federal highway matching funds.

A majority (53%) of those surveyed supported the idea of the state compensating municipalities for maintaining state highways. Interestingly though, only 25% were opposed to this idea, while 22% were undecided.

PEOPLES VETO AND SELECTMENS RECALL BEFORE STATE & LOCAL

On Wednesday, February 10, the State & Local Government Committee held a public hearings on a bill regarding the people’s veto election. LD 228, Resolution. Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Require a Referendum for a People’s Veto to Be Held at a Primary or General Election, would send out to the voters a proposal to require a people’s veto election to be held during the June primary or in November during the general election. Under the current constitutional provision, a peoples’ veto initiative will most likely be scheduled at a unique time during the year depending on when the citizen petitions are ratified by the Secretary of State’s office. MMA and other proponents of the bill sited the unanticipated cost on municipalities to hold special elections, combined with the benefit of a higher voter turnout, as reasons to propose the change to the voters. MMA’s 70-member Legislative Policy Committee gave its unanimous support to this proposal. Work session: February 17 in the afternoon.

The Committee also held public hearings on:

• LD 494, An Act to Facilitate Implementation of Municipal Growth Management Programs, sponsored by Rep. Richard Nass (Acton). LD 494 makes it clear that a municipal growth ordinance that regulates the pace of development is different from a municpal moratorium on a specific type of development or land use activity. A moratorium is a complete but temporary block on the particular activity so that the town can plan and prepare for it. A growth ordinance is enacted as the result of planning and preparation as a regulatory tool that is not limited to the moratorium’s 180-day duration. MMA spoke in support of LD 494. Representatives of the real estate development industry spoke in opposition to the measure. Work session: February 17 in the afternoon.

• LD 525, An Act to Establish Recall Provisions for Elected County and Municipal Officials, sponsored by Rep. Albion Goodwin (Pembroke). LD 525 would establish a statewide recall provision for elected municipal officials that would apply in all municipalities whether or not a recall ordinance has been adopted.

MMA spoke in opposition to LD 525. The process of recalling the municipal officers is available now to the citizens of any municipality through the adoption of a simple ordinance. If the selectmen aren’t overly enthusiastic about placing a recall ordinance on the warrant, that can be accomplished by the citizens through the petition process. Under current law, the only elected officers that can be recalled by ordinance are the municipal officers. The school officers can only be recalled by charter, and 420 municipalities in Maine do not have charters. MMA is unaware of any process to recall legislators. Work session: Feb. 19 in the morning.

TAXING NATURAL GAS

Senator Marge Kilkelly (Lincoln Cty.) introduced her bill to the Taxation Committee on Wednesday that would give a second look as to whether the natural gas in a pipeline should be exempt form property taxation as "inventory". The main argument Senator Kilkelly is making for her bill (LD 479, An Act Regarding the Taxation of Natural Gas in a Gas Pipeline), is that the rural communities in Maine through which the pipeline travels receive no benefits from the product and a minimum tax revenue based on the value of the pipe itself, which does not adequately compensate for the disruption caused by the pipeline’s presence or the local infrastructure necessary to support it.

Specifically, LD 479 would subject the natural gas that is within a pipeline on the April 1 day of assessment to be subject to property taxation on the basis of its just value. Senator Kilkelly is open to an alternative arrangement whereby the gas might be taxed more centrally, as oil is taxed, with the revenues being placed in a fund to be distributed to the pipeline communities, as the oil tax revenue is dedicated to environmental protection.

The impacts of a pipeline in a rural town cited by Senator Kilkelly are: expanded public safety programs, road damage both short term and in reduced road life, disruption of local planning efforts requiring redesigned comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances, change in rural character, and potential decrease in property values subject to or affected by the pipeline easement.

Rep. Scott Cowger (Hallowell) also testified in support of LD 479.

MMA was not present in the Committee room at the public hearing for LD 479, but understands that representatives of the natural gas industry had a different point of view. Their opposition to Kilkelly’s bill is based on the premise that the tax value of the pipeline in any community is fair and long-term compensation for what are primarily short-term or temporary impacts and the overall impact of natural gas transmission in Maine is positive in terms of job creation, energy capacity, and growth potential.

MMA’s Legislative Policy Committee has not yet had an opportunity to define the Association’s position on LD 479.

GA COMPROMISE

The Human Services Committee reached a quick and unanimous compromise this week on LD 257, An Act to Change the Municipal General Assistance Shelter Allowance. Sponsored by Representative Kevin Glynn (South Portland), LD 257 as printed would increase the maximum level of General Assistance benefit from 110% of the federally-developed Fair Market Rental values (FMRs) to 140% of those values. MMA opposed the bill.

At work session, Representative Glynn presented a compromise position to the Committee, which was supported by all interested parties and unanimously accepted by the Committee members present at the work session. The compromise would retain the current formula to calculate the maximum benefit at 110% of the federal FMRs. As amended, LD 257 would simply insert a clause into General Assistance statute that would give the local administrator the discretion to exceed the maximum benefit level when an emergency situation is imminent, so that the emergency can be prevented. This will prevent a municipal GA administrator from having to wait until the emergency situation actually occurs in order to be able to provide the adequate benefit.

PILOT PROPOSED

On Monday this week the Taxation Committee helda work session on LD 283, An Act to Protect Municipalities from Property Tax Loss when Land is Acquired by the State. Committee members had differing opinions, and a divided report will be issued. LD 283 would require the state to reimburse municipalities for their lost tax revenue attributable to the state’s acquisition of land after October 1, 1999. Although several Committee members indicated that the issue of the concentration of exempt property in municipalities is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, many of those same panelists felt that LD 283 was primarily designed to provide payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to the unorganized territories, which with an average tax rate of seven mills, are not the sector of Maine most deserving of relief from concentrated tax exemptions.

In the end, a majority of the Committee voted "Ought Not to Pass" on LD 283. Four of the Committee’s 13 panelists voted to support LD 283, with some technical amendments.

POLLING PLACES

The Committee on Legal & Veterans Affairs heard testimony this week on two bills sponsored by Rep. Kevin Glynn (South Portland) that would make statutory changes to address polling place violations. The first bill, LD 396, An Act to Give Standing to Any person Who Witnesses a Violation at a Polling Place, would enable a person witnessing a violation to have legal standing to bring the allegation to Maine’s Superior Court. The second bill, LD 500, An Act to Establish an Administrative Procedure to Hear Polling Places Violation Complaints, would create a formal administrative process for witnesses of polling place violations to process their complaints.

MMA testified in opposition to both of these bills because there already exists a less formal but fully effective process for filing complaints with the election officials, the municipal clerk, the elected municipal officials and the Secretary of State’s Office…one at a time or all at once.

Work sessions on these three bills have been scheduled for Wednesday, February 16 at 9:00 a.m.

IN THE HOPPER

 Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

LD 1193 – An Act to Ensure that Land for Maine’s Future Acquisition Include Lands of Local or Regional Significance (Sponsored by Sen. Longley of Waldo; additional cosponsors)

This bill would require that 10% of the funds expended by the Land for Maine’s Future Board be used to acquire lands of local or regional significance.

LD 1151 – An Act to Authorize the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management to Establish a Disaster Relief Trust Fund (Sponsored by Rep. McAlevey of Waterboro; additional cosponsors)

This bill would establish a disaster relief fund to be provided to municipalities in cases of state-federal designated disasters and in the case of localized disasters when the statewide impact is not sufficient to trigger federal relief. The disaster fund would be funded by surcharges of $2 and $4 on residential and commercial property insurance premiums, respectively.

LD 1220 – An Act to Provide for Resident State Police Officers for Municipalities Without a Police Force (Sponsored by Rep. Clark of Millinocket; additional cosponsors)

This bill would allow municipalities without police departments to contract with the State Police for local police coverage.

LD 1216 – An Act to More Equitably Distribute General Purpose Aid to Schools Based on Property Values (Sponsored by Rep. Belanger of Caribou; additional cosponsors)

This bill would amend the GPA school subsidy distribution formula by removing the income and cost of living factors. This bill would also require that any reduction to the state share of education costs be calculated as a reduction by mill rather than by percentage.

LD 1126 – An Act to Increase Internal Plumbing Fees and Remedy Inconsistencies in Plumbing Laws (Sponsored by Rep. Cowger of Hallowell; additional cosponsors)

This bill would increase the internal plumbing fees from $4 to $6 per internal fixture and $12 to $24 for the minimum fee for all combined fixtures.

LD 1137 – An Act to Allow Police Officers to Prosecute Their Own Traffic Infractions in District Court (Sponsored by Rep. Schneider of Durham; additional cosponsors)

This bill would authorize law enforcement officers to prosecute traffic violations in court (with the permission of the court) even though they are not licensed to practice before the bar.

LD 1148 – An Act to Amend the Maine Tort Claims Act (Sponsored by Rep. Ahearne of Madawaska; additional cosponsors)

This bill would amend the Tort Claims Act to create an immunity from liability related to computer malfunctions associated with "Year 2000" problems.

LD 1019 – An Act to Limit Mandatory Overtime (Sponsored by Rep. Hatch of Skowhegan; additional cosponsors)

This bill would prohibit an employer from requiring an employee, except a seasonal employee, to work more than 40 overtime hours in any period of two calendar weeks.

LD 1149 – An Act to Require the Municipal Clerk to Attend at Least One Training Session that is Approved by the Secretary of State Every 2 Years Regarding the Conduct of Elections (Sponsored by Rep. Fisher of Brewer; additional cosponsors)

This bill would require municipal clerks to attend a training session at least once every two years regarding the conduct of elections.

LD 1080 – An Act to Direct State Capital Investments to Locally Designated Growth Areas (Sponsored by Sen. Longley of Waldo; additional cosponsors)

This bill would define the types of state investments that are "growth-related" capital investments and it would require most of those types of state investments to be located in municipally-designated growth zones or in municipal areas that have sewer facilities sufficient to support the development. Exceptions are made for certain state investments that would logically not occur in growth areas.

LD 1114 – An Act to Permit Telescopes and Other Scientific Instruments to be Shielded from the Weather (Sponsored by Rep. Davidson of Brunswick)

This bill would amend shoreland zoning law to allow the height restriction on structures in the shoreland zone to be exceeded not more than 12 feet above the subject structure to enclose telescopes or other scientific equipment.

LD 1209 – An Act Regarding Property Owners Whose Land Abuts a Solid or Special Waste Landfill (Sponsored by Rep. Tracy of Rome; additional cosponsors)

This bill would entitle the abutters of solid waste landfills to a semiannual water test paid by the landfill’s licensee as well as 5% of the tipping fees received by the landfill licensee to compensate for loss of enjoyment of the abutter’s property.

LD 1107 – An Act to Prohibit Municipalities from Imposing Licensing Standards for Businesses and Occupations (Sponsored by Rep. Glynn of South Portland; additional cosponsors)

This bill would prohibit municipalities from enacting ordinances beyond that which is required or authorized by state law. An exception to the preemption are regulations that protect the health and safety of the public.

LD 1131 – An Act Regarding Municipal Notification and Approval in the Siting of Community Living Arrangements Within a Municipality (Sponsored by Rep. Tuttle of Sanford; additional cosponsors)

This bill would establish three standards for "community living arrangements" (group homes) to meet before receiving a permit to build or occupy a building in a municipality: (1) proof that written notice has been given to the municipal officers; (2) a presentation of the facility’s impact on the municipality at a public hearing; and (3) voted approval of the municipal officers.

LD 1132 – An Act to Establish Minimum Criteria for Siting Community Living Arrangements (Sponsored by Rep. Tuttle of Sanford; additional cosponsors)

This bill would add standards to be met in order for "community living arrangements" (group homes) to obtain a certificate of need from the state, including: (1) the impact of the facility on the community; (2) a public hearing to discuss location of the facility; and (3) the impact on property values of surrounding properties, etc.

LD 1178 – An Act Concerning Public Postings by Political Parties (Sponsored by Rep. Glynn of South Portland, by request)

This bill would require municipalities to provide space for political parties to post notices at municipal posting places.

LD 1190 – An Act to Allow Greenings Island to Secede from the Town of Southwest Harbor (Sponsored by Sen. Goldthwait of Hancock, by request)

This, by request, bill would allow for the secession of Greenings Island from Southwest Harbor and the island’s incorporation as a municipality if approved by the voters of Greenings Island.

LD 1227 – Resolve, Regarding State Mandates Imposed Before Approval of the Constitutional Amendment Governing State Mandates (Sponsored by Rep. Perkins of Penobscot; additional cosponsors)

This bill would direct the Legislative Council to research all mandates enacted in the biennium before the "unfunded mandate" law was adopted by the voters in 1992 and either fund those mandates or place them before the Legislature to obtain the two-thirds vote necessary to override the funding requirement.

LD 1041 – An Act to Amend Municipal Revenue Sharing to Take Into Account Sales Tax Revenues (Sponsored by Rep. Glynn of South Portland)

This bill is a "concept draft" that seeks a "more equitable" distribution of revenue sharing based on a municipality’s sales tax receipts.

LD 1122 – An Act to Return a Percentage of the Meals and Lodging Tax to the Municipality in Which Those Taxes were Levied (Sponsored by Rep. Lemoine of Old Orchard Beach; additional cosponsors)

This bill would require the state to remit to the municipality of origin 10% of the revenue collected by the meals and lodging tax.

LD 1123 – An Act to Set Fees for Services for Tax-exempt Property in Municipalities (Sponsored by Rep. McNeil of Rockland; additional cosponsors)

This bill would extend the existing law authorizing the application of a service charge against tax exempt property. Under current law, the service chare ordinance can only be applied against rental properties that are completely exempt from taxation. This bill would allow the service charge to be applied against all property completely exempt from taxation except church or governmental property.

LD 1130 – An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Task Force to Study Telecommunications Taxation (Sponsored by Rep. Berry for the Task Force to Study Telecommunications pursuant to Resolve 1997, chapter 121, section 7)

This bill presents the recommendations of the Task Force to Study Telecommunications Taxation. Among the several recommendations, this bill would repeal the state’s property tax on telecommunications property and return that $1 billion worth of property to the municipal tax jurisdiction.

LD 1157 – An Act to Ensure the Payment of Real Estate Taxes on Transferred Property (EMERGENCY) (Sponsored by Rep. Goodwin of Pembroke)

This bill would require the seller of real estate to pay the property taxes for the current year at the time of closing. After the closing, when the new owner pays his or her pro rata share of the property taxes, the municipality would release that share to the seller.

LD 1167 – An Act to Establish the Local Option Tax on Liquor, Meals and Lodging (Sponsored by Sen. Rand of Cumberland; additional cosponsors)

This bill would allow municipalities to adopt a local option tax not to exceed 2% on the sales of liquor, food and lodging. The revenues obtained by the local option tax must be used to fund major capital projects or local roads.

LD 1174 – An Act to Revise the Business Equipment Property Tax Reimbursement Program (Sponsored by Rep. Tripp of Topsham; additional cosponsors)

This bill would amend the Business Equipment Reimbursement Program in three ways: (1) the rate of reimbursement to the qualifying business would be reduces from 100% to 75% for property put into service after April 1, 1999: (2) the entitlement aspect of BETR would be changed so that beneficiaries would be reimbursed to the extent funding is available; and (3) cable TV property would no longer be disqualified for reimbursement.

LD 1177 – An Act to Amend the Property Tax Exemption for Hospitals (Sponsored by Rep. Dudley of Portland; additional cosponsors)

This bill would remove the unique property tax exemption that applies to property leases by hospitals.

LD 1200 – An Act to Amend the Laws Pertaining to Excise Tax Collection (Sponsored by Sen. Goldthwait of Hancock; additional cosponsors)

This bill would require the Secretary of State’s Office to provide the equipment to municipal motor vehicle registration agents that those agents need to perform their duties, such as the registration stamps.

LD 1099 – An Act to Exempt the Requirement that All Municipal Taxes be Paid in Advance of Moving a Mobile Home (Sponsored by Rep. Tessier of Fairfield; additional cosponsors)

This bill would exempt the requirement that all taxes be paid before moving a mobile home when the mobile home is being moved from one location to another location within the same municipality.

LD 1100 – An Act to Improve the Enforcement of Traffic Laws (Sponsored by Rep. Norbert of Portland; additional cosponsors)

This bill would establish a 20% surcharge on traffic fines and remit the surcharged revenues to the municipalities issuing the traffic summons. This bill would also remit to the summonsing municipality 50% of any other increase in traffic fines enacted after October 1, 1999.

LD 1207 – An Act to Amend the Local Highway Laws (Sponsored by Sen. Harriman of Cumberland; additional cosponsors)

This bill would amend the law governing utility excavation in the public right of way by providing: (1) the same regulatory authority to "towns" that currently exists for "cities"; and (2) that the municipality may recover certain costs associated with utility excavation in town roads such as inspection costs, costs of replacement of base material as well as pavement, and road depreciation costs. MMA bill.

LD 1231 – An Act to Allow Special-use Access over Discontinued Municipal and County Roads (Sponsored by Rep. Gooley of Farmington; additional cosponsors)

This bill would allow timber to be trucked on a discontinued town way as long as a public easement existed. The bill would also allow a person transporting timber on such a road to perform whether road maintenance is necessary, including the removal of gates or bars, to allow for the timber transport.

 LEGISALTIVE HEARINGS

The Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs (287-1635) has scheduled public hearings in Room 228 of the State House on LD 617, referred to as the "Part 2" or "New and Expanded Services" budget bill. Notations of the public hearings on the budget with the Appropriations Committee along with the individual Joint Standing Committees, and the times that they will be heard, are made under each of the following dates.

9:00 a.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

10:30 a.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources.

1:00 p.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on Research and Development

2:00 p.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs.

LD 624 – An Act to Require Public Hearings for School Administrative District Referenda (Sponsor: WESTON)

LD 700 – An Act to Amend Voting Procedures for School Unions (Emergency) (Sponsor: PERKINS)

LD 746 – An Act to Allow Municipal Review of Actual School Budget and Expenditures (Sponsor: O’NEIL)

LD 702 – An Act to Revise the Fact-finding Process under the Public Employees Labor Relations Laws (Sponsor: MARTIN)

LD 840 – An Act to Provide Binding Arbitration for Police Departments, Sheriff Departments and Professional Fire Departments (Sponsor: MUSE)

LD 459 – An Act to Ensure Equity in the Competitive Bidding Process for Construction Projects Supported by Public Funds (Sponsor: BUCK)

LD 375 – An Act to Amend the Obligations of Direct Reimbursement Employers (Sponsor: PRESIDENT LAWRENCE)

LD 785 – An Act to Restore State Funding for Mediation Services Provided by the Maine Labor Relations Board (Sponsor: HATCH)

LD 431 – RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Prohibit Fees for Activity Related to the Election Process (Sponsor: RINES)

LD 52 – An Act to Expand the Number of Lights Firefighters May Use on Their Motor Vehicles (Sponsor: JONES)

LD 783 – An Act to Require That Farm Tractors and Skidders Driven on a Public Way be Registered and Insured (Sponsor: TRACY)

LD 657 – An Act to Require the Revocation of the Registration of an Uninsured Motor Vehicle (Sponsor: MACKINNON)

LD 694 – An Act to Increase the Number of Elm Trees in the State (Sponsor: GAGNON)

9:00 a.m. With the Joint Standing committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs.

10:30 a.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

11:30 a.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources.

1:00 p.m. With the Legislative Council.

2:00 p.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services.

LD 656 – An Act to Adjust the Alternative Funding Mechanism for the Maine Public Drinking Water Commission (Sponsor: NUTTING, J.)

LD 703 – An Act to Create the Maine Civil Rights Act of 1999 (Sponsor: MACK)

LD 770 – An Act to Make the Laws Governing State Ambient Air Quality for Ozone and Particulate Matter Consistent with Federal Requirements (Sponsor: BULL) (Department bill; submitted by the Department of Environmental Protection)

LD 621 – An Act to Allow Towns to Sand and Plow Private Ways (Sponsor: STANLEY)

LD 689 – An Act Concerning Municipal Public Library Trust Funds (Sponsor: BERUBE)

LD 660 – An Act to Include Counties in the Definition of Local Government in the Archives and Records Management Law (Sponsor: GOLDTHWAIT) (Agency bill; submitted by the Secretary of State)

LD 818 – An Act to Require Municipal Police Departments to Assist When Called Upon by the State Police on the Interstate Highways Under Certain Circumstances (Sponsor: FRECHETTE)

LD 823 – An Act to Concerning Sheriffs’ Annual Meetings with Municipal Officers (Sponsor: MCALEVEY)

LD 817 – An Act to Require 90% of Estate Taxes Collected in Counties to Remain in the County Where Collected (Sponsor: GOODWIN)

LD 262 – An Act to Amend the BETR Program Regarding Reimbursement and Eligibility (Sponsor: GAGNON)

LD 184 – An Act to Exempt Retail Store Property from the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement Program (Sponsor: MILLS)

LD 183 – An Act to Exempt Food and Lodging Property from the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement Program (Sponsor: MILLS)

LD 182 – An Act to Eliminate Duplicate Benefits from the Tax Increment Financing and Business Equipment Reimbursement Program (Sponsor: MILLS)

LD 340 – An Act to Reduce the Property Taxes on Old Business Equipment (Sponsor: GLYNN)

LD 120 – An Act to Include Investment in Agricultural Building Improvements in the Business Property Tax Reimbursement Program (Sponsor: LONGLEY)

LD 317 – An Act to Exclude Retail Stores from Participation in Tax Increment Financing Districts (Sponsor: MILLS)

LD 329 – An Act to Exclude Food and Lodging Establishments from Participating in Tax Increment Financing Districts (Sponsor: MILLS)

LD 412 – An Act to Include Property in a Tax Increment Financing District Approved After October 1, 1999 in a Municipality’s State Valuation for Purposes of Education Funding (Sponsor: MILLS)

9:00 a.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation.

1:00 p.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on Education.

2:00 p.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on Labor.

3:00 p.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government.

LD 812 – An Act to Allow the State Police to Accept Revenue for Providing Services to Municipalities and Counties (Sponsor: POVICH) (Department bill; submitted by the Department of Public Safety)

LD 716 – An Act to Amend the Law Relating to School Construction and School Facilities (Sponsor: RICHARD) (Department bill; submitted by the Department of Education)

LD 341 – An Act to Increase the Amount Retained by Agents Who Sell Hunting and Fishing Licenses (Sponsor: CROSS)

LD 658 – An Act to Require Notification of a Lien on Property to Be Done by Certified Mail (Sponsor: BENNETT)

LD 158 – An Act to Require an Elected Town Clerk to Nominate the Registrar of Voters (Sponsor: LEMOINE)

LD 188 – An Act to Allow Unenrolled Voters to Serve as Election Workers at Polling Places (Sponsor: GOLDTHWAIT)

LD 438 – An Act to Expedite Removal of Invalid Voter Names from Voter Lists (Sponsor: GLYNN)

LD 204 – An Act to Require the Secretary of State to Provide Single-sided Ballots upon Request of Municipal Clerks (Sponsor: LEMOINE)

LD 335 – An Act to Require Reimbursement to Municipalities for the Cost of State Special Elections (Sponsor: GLYNN)

LD 346 – An Act to Increase the Number of Absentee Ballots that a Person May Request (Sponsor: BOLDUC)

LD 704 – An Act to Allow for Cooperative Purchase of Electricity by Governmental Units (Emergency) (Sponsor: MITCHELL, C.)

9:00 a.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary.

10:30 a.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation.

1:00 p.m. With the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice.

LD 810 – An Act to Encourage Responsible Employment Practices (Sponsor: CATHCART)

LD 545 – An Act to Increase the Homestead Tax Exemption (Sponsor: LOVETT)

LD 726 – An Act to Increase the Homestead Exemption (Sponsor: SULLIVAN)

LD 489 – An Act to Change the Homestead Exemption to 7% of Just Value (Sponsor: ANDREWS)

LD 544 – An Act to Value Homestead Exemption Farm Land at Current Use (Sponsor: GREEN)

LD 808 – An Act to Amend the Homestead Exemption Law (Sponsor: NUTTING, J.)

LD 753 – An Act to Amend the Homestead Exemption to Include Homeowners’ Cooperatives (Sponsor: PRESIDENT LAWRENCE)

LD 212 – An Act to Increase the Property Tax Exemptions for a Parsonage (Sponsor: SHIELDS)

LD 166 – An Act to Amend the Public Property Tax Exemption (Sponsor: O’GARA)

LD 519 – An Act to Eliminate the Local Property Tax on Homes for Individuals 65 Years of Age or Older ( Sponsor: TRIPP)

LD 328 – An Act to Establish Parity in Property Taxation for Commercial Dairy Farmers (Sponsor: MILLS)

LD 691 – An Act to Require Sellers of Property to Notify Purchasers of Tax Due (Sponsor: DAIGLE)

LD 415 – An Act to Limit a Property Owner’s Tax Liability to the Time Prior to Sale of the Property (Sponsor: RUHLIN)

LD 681 – An Act to Fund Public School Alliances (Sponsor: GAGNON)

LD 739 – An Act to Form a New Local Education Agency (EMERGENCY) (Sponsor: POWERS)

LD 683 – An Act to Allow the Revocation of Certain Licenses and Automobile Registrations for Payment by an Insufficient Funds Check (Sponsor: FOSTER)

LD 752 – An Act to Require the Secretary of State to Supply Municipalities with Preprinted, Postage-prepaid Post Cards to be Used When a Voter Moves (Sponsor: CAREY)

LD 897 – An Act to Extend the Management Plan Requirement for Forest Owners Under the Maine Tree Growth Tax Law (EMERGENCY) (Sponsor: GOOLEY)

LD 177 – An Act to Extend the Tree Growth Plan Filing Deadline (EMERGENCY) (Sponsor: MILLS)

LD 587 – An Act to Ameliorate Penalties for Late Filing of Municipal Tax Returns (Sponsor: MILLS)

LD 239 – An Act to Amend the Maine Tree Growth Tax Law (Sponsor: O’GARA)

LD 935 – An Act to Set Penalties for the Late Filing of the Tree Growth Tax Reimbursement (Sponsor: STEDMAN)

LD 273 – An Act to Require New and Reconstructed Bridges to Provide for Safe Recreational Use (Sponsor: CAMERON)

LD 362 – An Act to Allow Municipalities to Set Speed Limits and Determine Whether Passing is Advisable on State Roads (Sponsor: WHEELER, G.)