Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA c. 62 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 62

LOCALLY GOVERNED WATER DISTRICTS

§6201.__Short title

This chapter is known and may be cited as the "Locally Governed Water District Act."

§6202.__Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

1.__Charter.__"Charter" has the same meaning as set forth in section 6402, subsection 1.

2.__Consumer-owned water utility.__"Consumer-owned water utility" has the same meaning as set forth in section 6101, subsection 1-A.

3.__Governing body.__"Governing body" has the same meaning as set forth in section 6101, subsection 1-B.

4.__Locally governed water district.__"Locally governed water district" means a consumer-owned water utility that has made an election under section 6203 after that election has taken effect.

§6203.__Election for local control

1.__Election of governing body.__Upon the affirmative vote of its governing body, a consumer-owned water utility may elect to become subject to this chapter.__The election must be certified by the secretary or clerk of the utility.

2.__Public hearing.__Prior to making an election under subsection 1, the consumer-owned water utility shall hold a public hearing at which the Public Advocate and any customer may testify and may question the utility's officials regarding the proposed election.__Public notice of the time, date, location and purpose of the hearing must be made at least 14 days in advance in a newspaper of general circulation in the area encompassed by the utility.__In addition, the utility shall provide one notice to each of its customers containing the same information in the public notice, which notice must be