3. Investigate and recommend ways in which governmental compliance with Maine's freedom of access laws may be meaningfully improved and calculate what, if any, costs may be associated with making such improvements;

4. Undertake a comprehensive inventory and review of the various exceptions to public access to records and proceedings found within the freedom of access laws and identify possible changes to these exceptions in order to streamline Maine law and thereby make it more easily understood and complied with by governmental employees;

5. Reconsider whether the need for any of the statutory exceptions, as currently worded, is outweighed by the State's general interest in ensuring citizens' access to public records and proceedings; and

6. Study whether and to what extent the freedom of access laws may be used as a harassment tool against local governmental entities and what remedies may be available and appropriate to deter any such harassment; and be it further

Sec. 5. Staff assistance. Resolved: That upon approval of the Legislative Council, the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall provide necessary staffing services to the committee; and be it further

Sec. 6. Reimbursement. Resolved: That legislative members of the committee are entitled to receive legislative per diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses for their attendance at authorized meetings of the committee. Public members not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities that they represent are entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses and, upon a demonstration of financial hardship, a per diem equal to the legislative per diem for their attendance at authorized meetings of the committee; and be it further

Sec. 7. Funding. Resolved: That the committee may seek outside funds to advance its work. Prompt notice of solicitation of funds must be sent to the Legislative Council. Contributions to support the work of the committee may not be accepted from any party having a pecuniary or other vested interest in the outcome of the matters being studied. Any person, other than a state agency, desiring to make a financial or in-kind contribution must