Resolve, Establishing the East-west Highway Study Commission To Oversee Further Study or Planning for an East-west Highway

Sec. 1. East-west Highway Study Commission established. Resolved: That the East-west Highway Study Commission, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established to oversee all state participation in plans for and development of an east-west highway; and be it further

Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That the commission consists of 11 members as follows:

1. Four members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:

2. Six members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows:

3. The Commissioner of Transportation or the commissioner's designee; and be it further

Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; and be it further

Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the commission to meet and conduct its business; and be it further

Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall consider the costs and benefits of a wide range of options and not limit its analysis to the financial feasibility of a new highway or highway upgrade project, and that alternative methods of achieving any benefits of a new highway, including rail services, must also be presented to the public for comment and analyzed in the work of the commission. The commission shall hold at least 3 regional public hearings along the route of the proposed east-west transit corridor. All documents, including emails, attachments, letters, contracts, reports, records, notes, summaries, working papers, plans, interoffice and intraoffice memoranda, drafts or any other materials created, received or transmitted by the commission are subject to public review and are not confidential under any provision of Maine law; and be it further

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further

Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than January 15, 2014, the commission shall submit a preliminary report that includes its findings and recommendations and, no later than October 15, 2014, a final report to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation.

summary

This resolve establishes the East-west Highway Study Commission to oversee further study of an east-west highway.