‘Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §66-B, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 270, Pt. C, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §66-B, sub-§4-A is enacted to read:
(1) Commissioner District Number 1, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor civil divisions and unorganized territories of Carthage, Jay, South Franklin, Temple and Wilton. The term of office of the commissioner from this district expires in 2020 and then in 2022.
(2) Commissioner District Number 2, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor civil divisions of Chesterville, Farmington and New Sharon. The term of office of the commissioner from this district expires in 2020 and then in 2022.
(3) Commissioner District Number 3, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor civil divisions and unorganized territories of Avon, Carrabassett Valley, Coplin, Dallas, East Central Franklin, Eustis, Industry, Kingfield, New Vineyard, North Franklin, Phillips, Rangeley, Rangeley Plantation, Sandy River, Strong, Weld, West Central Franklin and Wyman Township. The term of office of the commissioner from this district expires in 2020 and then in 2022.
(1) Commissioner District Number 1, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor civil divisions and unorganized territories of Temple, Wilton and the portion of Farmington located on the west side of the Sandy River. The term of office of the commissioner from this district expires in 2024 and every 4 years thereafter.
(2) Commissioner District Number 2, in the County of Franklin, consists of the portion of Farmington located on the east side of the Sandy River. The term of office of the commissioner from this district expires in 2024 and every 4 years thereafter.
(3) Commissioner District Number 3, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor civil divisions and unorganized territories of Avon, Carthage, Coplin, Eustis, North Franklin, Phillips, Rangeley, Rangeley Plantation, Sandy River, South Franklin, Strong, Weld and West Central Franklin. The term of office of the commissioner from this district expires in 2024 and every 4 years thereafter.
(4) Commissioner District Number 4, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor civil divisions and unorganized territories of Carrabassett Valley, Dallas, East Central Franklin, Industry, Kingfield, New Sharon, New Vineyard and Wyman Township. The term of office of the commissioner from this district expires in 2026 and every 4 years thereafter.
(5) Commissioner District Number 5, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor civil divisions of Chesterville and Jay. The term of office of the commissioner from this district expires in 2026 and every 4 years thereafter.
Sec. 3. Referendum; effective date. This Act takes effect 90 days after its approval only for the purpose of permitting its submission by the county commissioners of Franklin to the legal voters of the county by ballot at the next general election to be held in November. The method of voting and the conduct of the referendum are governed by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 21-A, and the county commissioners or county administrators shall perform the duties of the Secretary of State prescribed by Title 21-A in the same manner as the county commissioners are required to do in the case of a county bond referendum election held pursuant to Title 30-A, section 938. The subject matter of this Act must be reduced to the following question:
"Do you favor increasing the number of Franklin County commissioner districts from 3 to 5 and staggering the terms of the 5 county commissioners following redistricting conducted pursuant to the Maine Constitution in 2021?"
The voters shall indicate their opinion on this question by a cross or check mark placed against the word "Yes" or "No." Before becoming effective, this Act must be approved by a majority of the legal voters casting ballots at the general election, and the total number of votes cast for and against the acceptance of this Act at the election must equal or exceed 50% of the total number of votes cast in the county for Governor at the last gubernatorial election.
The result of a referendum must be declared by the county commissioners or county administrators and due certificate filed with the Secretary of State within 10 days after the date of the election.
This Act takes effect for all purposes upon approval of the referendum held in accordance with this section.’