Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-F, sub-§19 is enacted to read:

19.__Maine Legislative 27 MRSA__701

Humanities Authority Per Diem

Sec. 2. 27 MRSA c. 21 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 21

MAINE HUMANITIES AUTHORITY

§701. Purpose

The Maine Humanities Authority, as established in Title 5, section 12004-F, subsection 19, and referred to in this chapter as "the authority," is a body both corporate and politic in the State established for the general purposes of acquiring and financing works of art and literature, historic preservation, library acquisitions and archival protection.

It is declared that the purposes of this chapter are public and that the authority is performing a governmental function in carrying out this chapter.

§702. Directors; appointment; president; vacancy

The authority consists of a board of 5 directors, who are broadly representative of arts, cultural and humanities interests in the State.__Four directors are appointed by the Governor, each to serve for 4 years, except that, for the initial terms, one director is appointed for one year, one for 2 years and one for 3 years. The remaining director is the Chair of the Maine Humanities Council or its successor organization or the chair's designee and serves as chair of the board of directors and president of the authority. The directors shall elect a treasurer and such other officers as the board of directors may from time to time determine necessary. The Governor shall fill a vacancy for an unexpired term.

1.__Meetings of directors; compensation. All the powers of the authority may be exercised by the board of directors in lawful meeting and a majority of the directors is necessary for a quorum. Regular meetings of the board of directors may be established by bylaw and notice need not be given to the directors of the regular meeting. Each director must be compensated according to the provisions of Title 5, chapter 379.

2.__Actions at law or in equity. Actions at law or in equity in the courts of this State may be brought by or against the