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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘Resolve, To Support the Development of a Model Charter for the St. John Valley Regional Planning Commission’
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1 Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to support the process to develop the St. John Valley Regional Planning Commission charter. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall invite representatives from the unorganized townships and following municipalities within Aroostook County to at least 2 meetings to facilitate the development of a model charter that would establish the St. John Valley Regional Planning Commission: Caswell Plantation, Cyr Plantation, Fort Kent, Frenchville, Grand Isle, Hamlin, Limestone, Madawaska, New Canada, New Sweden, St. Agatha, Stockholm, Van Buren, Wallagrass Plantation and Woodland. The commissioner shall provide assistance at the meetings to facilitate the development of a model charter for the St. John Valley Regional Planning Commission and provide assistance with identifying any regulatory obstacles or impediments to establishing such a charter; and be it further
Sec. 2 Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 5, 2012, the Department of Economic and Community Development shall provide a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor, commerce, research and economic development matters on any meetings held under section 1. The department shall include with the report recommendations regarding the proposal to establish in law a charter for the St. John Valley Regional Planning Commission. The joint standing committee is authorized to submit a bill related to section 1 to the First Regular Session of the 126th Legislature; and be it further
Sec. 3 Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Administration - Economic and Community Development 0069
 
Initiative: Provides one-time funds for the cost associated with staff from the Department of Economic and Community Development traveling to Aroostook County to provide assistance at a minimum of 2 meetings to facilitate the development of a model charter for the St. John Valley Regional Planning Commission.

GENERAL FUND	2011-12	2012-13	
All Other	$0	$1,700	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$1,700	
 
’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment is the majority report of the committee. It replaces the bill with a resolve directing the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to invite representatives from unorganized townships and the following municipalities within Aroostook County to at least 2 meetings to facilitate the development of a model charter that would establish the St. John Valley Regional Planning Commission: Caswell Plantation, Cyr Plantation, Fort Kent, Frenchville, Grand Isle, Hamlin, Limestone, Madawaska, New Canada, New Sweden, St. Agatha, Stockholm, Van Buren, Wallagrass Plantation and Woodland. It requires the commissioner to provide assistance at the meetings to facilitate the development of a model charter for the St. John Valley Regional Planning Commission and provide assistance with identifying any regulatory obstacles or impediments to establishing such a charter. It requires the department to provide a report no later than December 5, 2012 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor, commerce, research and economic development matters on any meetings that were held, as well as any recommendations regarding the need for a charter to be established in law. It authorizes the committee to submit a bill on this issue to the First Regular Session of the 126th Legislature.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)