An Act To Provide Tribal Representation in the Senate

Sec. 1. 3 MRSA §1,   as amended by PL 2009, c. 636, Pt. A, §1, is further amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:

Beginning with the 126th Legislature, and biennially thereafter, the Tribal Clerk of the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Tribal Clerk of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Tribal Clerk of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or the Aroostook Micmac Council shall furnish, on or before the day preceding the meeting of the Legislature, to the Secretary of the preceding Senate a certification of the name and residence of the Senate Tribal Representative-elect of the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or the Aroostook Band of Micmacs to the Legislature. The Senate Tribal Representative rotates every 2 years among the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, as determined by agreement among the nation, tribe and bands.

Sec. 2. 3 MRSA §2,  as amended by PL 2009, c. 636, Pt. A, §2, is further amended by adding after the 8th paragraph a new paragraph to read:

Beginning with the 126th Legislature, the Senate Tribal Representative elected to represent the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or the Aroostook Band of Micmacs at the Legislature is entitled to receive a salary equal to the salary of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, including a cost-of-living adjustment, for each regular session and allowance for meals, constituent service, housing and travel expenses to the same extent as members of the Senate for attendance at each legislative session or authorized committee meeting. For the duration of any special session of the Legislature, the Senate Tribal Representative is entitled to receive the same per diem payment and allowances, including housing, meal and travel expenses, as any member of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Sec. 3. 3 MRSA §21-B  is enacted to read:

§ 21-B.  Senate Tribal Representative

summary

This bill establishes a Senate Tribal Representative to represent the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or the Aroostook Band of Micmacs at the Legislature. The position rotates among the nation, tribe and bands every 2 years as determined by agreement among the nation, tribe and bands. The position is established beginning in the 126th Legislature. The Senate Tribal Representative must be furnished a seat on the floor of the Senate, must be granted the privilege of speaking on the floor of the Senate on pending legislation and must be appointed to sit as a nonvoting member of a joint standing committee. The Senate Tribal Representative may be granted other rights and privileges approved by the Senate. The Senate Tribal Representative serves for 2 years and is entitled to receive a salary and allowances equal to the salary and allowances received by members of the Senate.