Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §90-D is enacted to read:

§90-D.__Public Comment Publication Fund

The Public Comment Publication Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established as a nonlapsing fund within the Department of the Secretary of State.__The fund consists of fees for public comment on constitutional resolutions and statewide referenda received by the Secretary of State pursuant to Title 1, section 354.__The money in the fund must be used for the purpose of publishing the informational pamphlet that includes the public comment, explanatory statement and fiscal estimate pursuant to Title 1, section 354.__The unobligated and unencumbered balance of the fund in excess of $5,000 as of December 1st of each year must be transferred to the General Fund.

Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE

Bureau of Administrative Services

and Corporations 0692

Initiative: Provides initial allocations for the Public Comment Publication Fund.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2005-06 2006-07

All Other $500 $500

__________ __________

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $500 $500

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Office of Fiscal and Program Review to prepare a fiscal estimate of each constitutional resolution or statewide referendum on state revenues, appropriations and allocations and to publish that estimate with the explanatory statement that is already required. The bill requires the Secretary of State to adopt rules regarding the publication of public comment by proponents and opponents of constitutional resolutions or statewide referenda and establishes a fee of $500 for having public comments published. It also establishes a dedicated fund in the Department of the Secretary of State consisting of revenue from the $500 fees and requires that the fund be used for the purpose of publishing the informational