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An Act Regarding the Administration and Financial Transparency of the Citizen Trade Policy Commission
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  the Citizen Trade Policy Commission through Public Law 2011, chapter 468 acquired ongoing funding to contract for qualified year-round administrative support staff and the commission contracted for such qualified staff; and
Whereas,  it is important to ensure that all funding provided to the commission remains available to the commission and does not lapse, including funding that would lapse at the end of the current fiscal year, so that the commission can continue to function appropriately and efficiently with the limited resources available to it; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 10 MRSA §11, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 699, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
 
8.  Staff.     The Legislature, through the commission, shall contract for staff support for the commission, which, to the extent funding permits, must be year-round staff support. In the event funding does not permit adequate staff support, the commission may request staff support from the Legislative Council, except that Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session.
Sec. 2. 10 MRSA §11, sub-§10, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 699, §2, is amended to read:
 
10. Accounting; outside funding.  All funds appropriated, allocated or otherwise provided to the commission must be deposited in an account separate from all other funds of the Legislature and are nonlapsing. Funds in the account may be used only for the purposes of the commission. The commission may seek and accept outside funding to fulfill commission duties. Prompt notice of solicitation and acceptance of funds must be sent to the Legislative Council. All funds accepted must be forwarded to the Executive Director of the Legislative Council, along with an accounting that includes the amount received, the date that amount was received, from whom that amount was received, the purpose of the donation and any limitation on use of the funds. The executive director administers anyshall administer all funds received in accordance with this section. At the beginning of each fiscal year, and at any other time at the request of the cochairs of the commission, the executive director shall provide to the commission an accounting of all funds available to the commission, including funds available for staff support.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill modifies the law governing the Citizen Trade Policy Commission to provide that:
1. To the extent funding permits, the Legislature, through the commission, must contract for year-round staff support for the commission. To the extent the commission lacks adequate staff support, the commission may request staff support from the Legislative Council, except that Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session; and
2. All funds appropriated, allocated or otherwise provided to the commission must be separately accounted for and used solely for the purposes of the commission and are nonlapsing. At the beginning of each fiscal year, and at any other time at the request of the cochairs of the commission, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council must provide to the commission an accounting of all funds available to the commission, including funds for staff support.
The bill is designated an emergency to ensure that the limited funding available to the commission does not lapse at the end of the current fiscal year.