Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §108-A, 2nd ¶, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 36, §2, is amended to read;

Notwithstanding Title 1, section 406, the commission is required to give notice of public proceedings only if the commission will deal with the expenditure of public funds or if the commission will make any of the following decisions in proceedings before it: a decision to initiate rulemaking or to adopt or modify a rule pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II; a decision making an advisory ruling pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter III; a decision to commence an adjudicatory proceeding, an interim decision in an adjudicatory proceeding that will affect the substantive or procedural rights of any party, or a final decision at the conclusion of an adjudicatory proceeding, all pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter IV; or a decision in any other proceeding pursuant to this Title or the commission's rules that requires commission approval or decision. In addition, if the commission is participating as a party in a proceeding before a federal agency and the commission will adopt a position in that federal proceeding, the commission shall give to other parties from the State who are participating in the federal proceeding notice of the public proceeding at which the commission may adopt that position.

SUMMARY

This bill removes the requirement that the Public Utilities Commission give notice of the public proceeding at which the commission may adopt a position it will take in a federal proceeding.