An Act To Include a Representative of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs in the House of Representatives
Sec. 1. 3 MRSA §1, last ¶, as amended by PL 2009, c. 636, Pt. A, §1, is further amended to read:
The Tribal Clerk of the Penobscot Indian Nation shall, on or before the day preceding the meeting of the Legislature, furnish to the Clerk of the preceding House of Representatives a certification, under the seal of the Nation, of the name and residence of the Representative-elect of the Penobscot Indian Nation to the Legislature. The Tribal Clerk of the Passamaquoddy Tribe of the reservation from which the Representative-elect of that tribe has been chosen shall, on or before the day preceding the meeting of the Legislature, furnish the Clerk of the preceding House of Representatives a certification of the name and residence of the Representative-elect of the Passamaquoddy Tribe to the Legislature. Beginning with the 126th Legislature, the Tribal Clerk of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians shall, on or before the day preceding the meeting of the Legislature, furnish to the Clerk of the preceding House of Representatives a certification of the name and residence of the Representative-elect of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians to the Legislature. Beginning with the 129th Legislature, the Tribal Clerk of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs shall, on or before the day preceding the meeting of the Legislature, furnish to the Clerk of the preceding House of Representatives a certification of the name and residence of the Representative-elect of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs to the Legislature.
Sec. 2. 3 MRSA §2, 9th ¶, as amended by PL 2009, c. 636, Pt. A, §2, is further amended to read:
The member of the Penobscot Indian Nation, the member of the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe and, beginning with the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature, the member of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and, beginning with the 129th Legislature, the member of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs elected to represent their tribes at the Legislature are 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 House of Representatives for attendance at each legislative session or authorized committee meeting. For the duration of any special session of the Legislature, they are 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. Contingent effective date. This Act does not take effect unless, within 90 days of the adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 128th Legislature, the Secretary of State receives written certification by the Tribal Council of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs that the band has agreed to the provisions of this Act, copies of which must be submitted by the Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Senate, the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Revisor of Statutes.
In no event may this Act become effective until 90 days after the adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.
SUMMARY
This bill makes the statutory changes necessary to include a representative of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs in the Maine House of Representatives beginning with the 129th Legislature. It requires the Tribal Clerk of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs to furnish the outgoing Clerk of the House of Representatives with a certification of the name and residence of the Representative-elect of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs to the Legislature. It also authorizes the Representative of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs to be compensated in the same manner as other members of the House of Representatives. It also provides that the changes do not take effect unless the Aroostook Band of Micmacs approves them and provides certification of that approval to the Secretary of State within 90 days of the adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.