Sec. 1. 3 MRSA §162, sub-§12-B is enacted to read:

12-B.__Independent and 3rd-party Budget Fund.__To establish a fund, called the Independent and 3rd-party Budget Fund, to provide administrative support for Independent and 3rd-party Legislators in order for them to comprehensively and effectively execute the duties of their office.

A.__The Executive Director of the Legislative Council shall administer the Independent and 3rd-party Budget Fund.

B.__By July 1, 2000, the Legislature shall appropriate money to the Independent and 3rd-party Budget Fund to be distributed to Independent and 3rd-party members of the House of Representatives.__The amount of the fund must be calculated by determining the total value of office space in the State House assigned by the Legislature for use by the Democratic members of the House of Representatives plus the total value of salary and benefits paid to the partisan Democratic employees of the House of Representatives.__That amount must then be divided by the number of Democratic members of the House of Representatives serving in the Legislature during that session.__The same formula must be applied to office space and employee salaries and benefits of partisan Republican legislative employees of the House of Representatives.__Whichever figure is less is equal to the amount of the Independent and 3rd-party Budget Fund distributed to Independent and 3rd-party members of the House of Representatives.

C.__By July 1, 2000, the Legislature shall appropriate money to the Independent and 3rd-party Budget Fund to be distributed to Independent and 3rd-party members of the Senate.__The amount of the fund must be calculated by determining the total value of office space in the State House assigned by the Legislature for use by the Democratic members of the Senate plus the total value of salary and benefits paid to the partisan Democratic employees of the Senate.__That amount must then be divided by the number of Democratic members of the Senate serving in the Legislature during that session.__The same formula must be applied to office space and employee salaries and benefits of partisan Republican legislative employees of the Senate.__Whichever figure is less is equal to the amount of the Independent and 3rd-party Budget Fund distributed to Independent and 3rd- party members of the Senate.