CONCEPT DRAFT

SUMMARY

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to do the following.

1. It would require that each of the state, county and municipal governments pay for those services that it requires be provided. This does not include Federal Government mandates and mandates related to education.

2. It would establish the Intergovernmental Advisory Group to study ways to reduce duplication and improve efficiency among all 3 levels of government in the State as well as within each level of government; to promote communication, cooperation and efficient delivery of services; to provide state resources for guidance, technical support and incentives to regionalize; and to work with local and regional entities to design and implement pilot projects that result in cost savings and improved services through regionalization or other efficiency efforts.

The advisory group would have the following representation:

A. Five members from State Government, 3 of whom must be commissioners and 2 of whom must be Legislators not of the same political party;

B. Five members who must be officials representing regional governments, 3 of whom must be county officials and 2 of whom must represent regional planning agencies, councils of government or other regional bodies; and

C. Five members who must be officers representing municipal governments, 3 of whom must be municipal officials and 2 of whom must represent school districts or other special- purpose districts that represent 2 or more municipalities.

3. It would encourage the adoption of a county charter by streamlining the procedure for initiating a charter commission and removing all statutory limits on charter powers. The changes to accomplish this include the following:

A. Changing language in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, chapter 11, subchapter 3 to remove limits on charter powers and to provide that a county that adopts a charter may have home rule. This provision would not change the