CHAPTER 96
S.P. 279 - L.D. 990
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §56 is enacted to read:
§56. Maine Regulatory Fairness Board established
The Maine Regulatory Fairness Board, referred to in this section as the "board," is established to hear testimony and to report to the Legislature and the Governor at least annually on regulatory and statutory changes necessary to enhance the State's business climate.
1. Membership. The board consists of 5 members who are owners, operators or officers of businesses operating in the State. The members, at least 3 of whom must represent businesses with fewer than 50 employees, are appointed by the Governor. In selecting the members of the board, the Governor shall make every effort to ensure that different regions of the State are represented. No member of the board may be an officer or employee of State Government.
2. Terms of appointment. Of the initial appointees, the first 2 members appointed by the Governor will serve 3-year terms; the next 2 members appointed by the Governor will serve 2-year terms; the last member appointed by the Governor will serve a one-year term. Upon completion of the initial terms of office pursuant to this subsection, each member appointed to the board must be appointed to serve a 3-year term. No member may serve more than 3 consecutive terms.
3. Chair; election of board officers; quorum. The members of the board shall annually elect a chair and a vice-chair from among the board members. A majority of members of the board constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the board's business, except a lesser number may hold public hearings.
4. Duties of board. The board shall:
A. Meet at least twice annually in a different region of the State to hear testimony from businesses regarding their concerns about enforcement activities of State departments and agencies; and
B. Report to the Governor and the Legislature at least annually on complaints of excessive enforcement actions against businesses by departments and agencies of State Government. The report also must include recommendations for regulatory and statutory changes, if any, that will enhance the State's business climate.
5. Annual report. The board shall report by February 1st of each year to the Governor and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business and economic development matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters on its findings and recommendations.
6. Technical assistance. The State Planning Office shall provide technical support to the board.
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§2-F is enacted to read:
Sec. 3. Initial meeting; acting chair. The Governor shall establish the date of the organizational meeting of the board no later than 30 days after completing initial appointments. The Governor shall designate an acting chair from among the appointees. The acting chair shall preside at the organizational meeting until a permanent chair and a vice-chair are elected from among the board's membership.
Effective September 21, 2001, unless otherwise indicated.
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