LD 926
pg. 1
LD 926 Title Page An Act to Reform the Direct Initiative Process to Eliminate Abuses and Provide ... Page 2 of 2
Download Bill Text
LR 1819
Item 1

 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

 
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §901, sub-§3-B, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 352, §1,
is amended to read:

 
3-B. Approved petitions printed by voters. A voter must
print the petitions in the form approved by the Secretary of
State.

 
The petition must include in a large typeface a brief description
of the proposed law, an economic impact statement and an
environmental impact statement prepared by the Executive
Department, State Planning Office.__In preparing the description
and the statements the State Planning Office shall consult with
experts in the University of Maine System.

 
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §901, sub-§3-C is enacted to read:

 
3-C.__Notice to public; appeal.__As soon as the applicant has
given written consent to the final language for the proposed law
for a direct initiative under subsection 3-A, the Secretary of
State shall provide notice to the public that a petition has been
submitted and shall invite public comment on the wording of the
ballot question for a period of 10 business days.

 
Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §901, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 581, §4, is
further amended to read:

 
4. Ballot question. The ballot question for an initiative or
a people's veto referendum must be drafted by the Secretary of
State in accordance with section 906 and rules adopted in
accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act. The
Secretary of State shall provide the ballot question to the
applicant for a people's veto referendum within 10 business days
after receipt of a properly completed application. The Secretary
of State shall provide the ballot question to the applicant for
an initiative within 10 20 business days after the applicant has
submitted to the Secretary of State written consent to the final
language of the proposed law has provided notice to the public
under subsection 3-C. The question must be conspicuously
displayed on the face of the petition.

 
SUMMARY

 
This bill amends the law governing the direct initiative of
legislation to require that petitions contain a description of
the proposal and statements setting out the environmental and
economic impacts. The bill also requires the Secretary of State
to give notice to the public to allow input on the wording of


LD 926 Title Page Top of Page Page 2 of 2