SP0838, LD 2178, item 1, 123rd Maine State Legislature
An Act To Increase Public Confidence in Government by Expanding Public Disclosure

PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act To Increase Public Confidence in Government by Expanding Public Disclosure
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §1016-A, sub-§4,  as amended by PL 1989, c. 608, §2, is further amended to read:
 
4. Disclosure of income of immediate family.   The Legislator shall disclose the type of economic activity representing each source of income of $1,000 or more that any member of the immediate family of the Legislator received and the name of that member of the Legislator's immediate family.
Sec. 2. 1 MRSA §1016-E  is enacted to read:
§ 1016-E.  Disclosure of interests
Each Legislator shall file with the commission by 5:00 p.m. on February 15th of each year on the form provided by the commission a statement of those interests and positions set forth in this section that were held in the preceding calendar year. Prior to the end of the first week in January of each year, the commission shall deliver a form to each Senator and member of the House of Representatives. The statement of interests is a public record.
 
1.  Disclosure of real property interests.     A Legislator filing a statement under this section shall report:
 
A.  The location of each piece of real property in which the Legislator holds an interest or interests with a total value of $10,000 or more, the type of interest or interests and the approximate value of the interest or interests; and
 
B.  For each real property interest or interests with a total value of $10,000 or more held by a member of the Legislator's immediate family, the name of the family member who holds the interest or interests, the location of the real property in which the interest or interests are held and the approximate value of the interest or interests.
 
2.  Disclosure of investment information.     A Legislator filing a statement under this section shall report:
 
A.  The value amount of each investment interest greater than $2,500 held by the Legislator; and
 
B.  The value amount of each investment interest greater than $2,500 held by a member of the Legislator's immediate family and the name of that member of the Legislator's immediate family.
 
For purposes of this subsection, "investment interest" includes stock holdings, corporate bonds, closely held businesses and other ownership interests.
 
3.  Disclosure of officer or director position.     A Legislator filing a statement under this section shall report:
 
A.  Any offices, trusteeships, directorships or positions of any nature, whether compensated or uncompensated, held by the Legislator in the preceding calendar year with any for-profit or nonprofit firm, corporation, association, partnership or business; and
 
B.  Any offices, trusteeships, directorships or positions of any nature, whether compensated or uncompensated, held by a member of the immediate family of the Legislator with any for-profit or nonprofit firm, corporation, association, partnership or business and the name of that member of the Legislator's immediate family.
Sec. 3. 1 MRSA §1016-F  is enacted to read:
§ 1016-F.  Internet disclosure
The commission shall publish on its publicly accessible website the completed forms submitted by Legislators pursuant to sections 1016-A, 1016-B, 1016-D, 1016-E and 1018 and by candidates for the Legislature pursuant to section 1016-C.
Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §19, sub-§2, ¶D,  as amended by PL 1989, c. 608, §3, is further amended to read:
 
D.  The type of economic activity representing each source of income of $1,000 or more that any member of the immediate family of the executive employee received and the name of that family member of the executive employee;
Sec. 5. 5 MRSA §19, sub-§2-A  is enacted to read:
 
2-A.  Statement of interests.     Each executive employee shall annually file with the Secretary of State a sworn and notarized statement of those interests and positions set forth in this subsection for the preceding calendar year. The statement must include:
 
A.  The location of each piece of real property in which the executive employee holds an interest or interests with a total value of $10,000 or more, the type of interest or interests and the approximate value of the interest or interests;
 
B.  For each real property interest or interests with a total value of $10,000 or more held by a member of the executive employee's immediate family, the name of the family member who holds the interest or interests, the location of the real property in which the interest or interests are held and the approximate value of the interest or interests;
 
C.  Any offices, trusteeships, directorships or positions of any nature, whether compensated or uncompensated, held by the executive employee with any for-profit or nonprofit firm, corporation, association, partnership or business;
 
D.  Any offices, trusteeships, directorships or positions of any nature, whether compensated or uncompensated, held by a member of the immediate family of the executive employee with any for-profit or nonprofit firm, corporation, association, partnership or business and the name of that member of the executive employee's immediate family;
 
E.  The value amount of each investment interest greater than $2,500 held by the executive employee; and
 
F.  The value amount of each investment interest greater than $2,500 held by a member of the executive employee's immediate family and the name of that member of the executive employee's immediate family.
 
For purposes of this subsection, "investment interest" includes stock holdings, corporate bonds, closely held businesses and other ownership interests.
Sec. 6. 5 MRSA §19, sub-§6,  as enacted by PL 1979, c. 734, §2, is amended to read:
 
6. Public record.   Statements filed under this section are public records. The Secretary of State shall publish on a publicly accessible website the completed forms of executive employees filed under this section.
 
SUMMARY
This bill expands the list of information that Legislators and executive branch officials are required to list on financial disclosures to include information on real estate interests, investment interests, positions held as officers and directors of entities and the names of and interests held by immediate family members of Legislators and executive branch officials. The bill also requires that completed disclosure forms of Legislators and executive employees, including the Governor, be made available over the Internet. The requirement for Internet publication of the completed forms applies to Legislators' disclosure of sources of income, reportable liabilities, bids on government contracts and updating statements and candidate disclosure forms and executive employee statements of sources of income.

SP0838, LR 3294, item 1, Signed on 2008-04-29 - First Special Session - 123rd Legislature, page