JOINT STUDY ORDER ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION TO STUDY ISSUES CONCERNING SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
ORDERED, the House concurring, that the Commission to Study Issues Concerning School Bus Drivers is established as follows.
1. Commission established. The Commission to Study Issues Concerning School Bus Drivers, referred to in this order as the "commission," is established.
2. Commission membership. The commission consists of 10 members appointed as follows:
A. One Senator appointed by the President of the Senate;
B. Two members of the House of Representatives, at least one of whom serves on the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
C. Two members employed as school bus drivers by educational institutions or education service agencies that transport students to and from school or to school-related activities, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
D. One member representing school bus drivers employed by educational institutions, appointed by the President of the Senate;
E. One member representing school bus drivers employed by education service agencies that transport students to and from school or to school-related activities, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
F. One member who represents owners of companies that provide school bus service to school administrative units, appointed by the President of the Senate;
G. One member who is the superintendent of a school administrative unit, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
H. The Commissioner of Labor or the commissioner's designee.
3. Chairs. The first named Senator is the Senate chair of the commission and the first named member of the House is the House chair of the commission.
4. Appointments; meetings. All appointments must be made no later than 30 days following passage of this order. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once the appointments have been made. When the appointment of all members has been completed, the chairs of the commission shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission no later than May 15, 2002.
5. Duties. The commission has the following duties:
A. To gather information pertaining to the retention of, recruitment of and access to unemployment compensation for school bus drivers; and
B. To make recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters as to the advisability of increasing access to unemployment compensation for school bus drivers, including any recommendations for legislation.
6. Staff assistance. Upon approval of the Legislative Council, the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission.
7. Compensation. The members of the commission who are Legislators are entitled to the legislative per diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred for their attendance at authorized meetings of the commission. Other members of the commission who are not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities that they represent are entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses incurred for their attendance at authorized meetings.
8. Report. The commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters by November 6, 2002. If the commission requires a limited extension of time to conclude its work, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant the extension.
9. Commission budget. The chairs of the commission, with assistance from the commission staff, shall administer the commission's budget. Within 10 days after its first meeting, the commission shall present a work plan to the Legislative Council for its approval. The commission may not incur expenses that would result in the commission's exceeding its approved budget. Upon request from the commission, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council or the executive director's designee shall provide the commission chairs and staff with a status report on the commission's budget, expenditures incurred and paid and available funds.
Passed by the Senate March 13, 2002 and the House of Representatives March 14, 2002.
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