8.__Compensation.__Legislative members of the advisory committee__are entitled to receive the legislative per diem, as defined in Title 3, section 2, and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses for their attendance at authorized meetings of the advisory 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 advisory committee.

9.__Staffing.__The Legislative Council shall provide staff support for the operation of the advisory committee, except that the Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session. In addition, the advisory committee may contract for administrative, professional and clerical services if funding permits.

10.__Report.__By January 15, 2007 and at least annually thereafter, the advisory committee shall report to the Governor, the Legislative Council, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court about the state of the freedom of access laws and the public's access to public proceedings and records.

Sec. 2. 1 MRSA §431, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

3.__Advisory committee.__"Advisory committee" means the Right To Know Advisory Committee established in Title 5, section 12004- J, subsection 14 and described in section 411.

Sec. 3. 1 MRSA §432, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 709, §3, is amended to read:

§432. Exceptions to public records; review

1. Recommendations. During the second regular session of each Legislature, the review committee shall may report out legislation containing its recommendations concerning the repeal, modification and continuation of public records exceptions and