Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §252-A, as amended by PL 1977, c. 696, §6, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§252-A.__Display of United States and state flag

1.__United States flag.__The United States flag may be flown at half mast only at those times specified by the President of the United States or the Governor.

A United States flag, except a flag having historical significance, when being displayed must be in good condition at all times and not tattered, torn or discolored.

Flying the United States flag in any manner in violation of the United States Flag Code or in violation of this subsection is a Class E crime.

2.__Display of state flag.__The state flag may be flown at half mast only at those times specified by the Governor, the county commissioners, the governing body of a municipality or the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission.__The state flag must be flown at half mast whenever the United States flag is flown at half mast or when ordered by the Governor.__The county commissioners, the governing body of a municipality or the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission may authorize the lowering of the flag to half mast only in the area over which the county commissioners, the governing body or the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission has authority.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the Uniform Flag Law to allow the Governor, the county commissioners, the governing body of a municipality and the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission to authorize the flying of the state flag at half mast in those areas over which those entities have authority.