‘Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study Transportation Funding Reform’

‘Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Commission To Study Transportation Funding Reform, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further

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

1. Three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, at least one of whom is from the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Senate, including at least one member of the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation and one member of either the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs or the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation;

2. Seven members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at least 3 of whom are from the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the House, including at least one member of the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation and one member of either the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs or the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation; and

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. The first-named Senate member must be from the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation and the first-named House member must be from the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation; 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 study how to reform and adequately supplement funding for the State's transportation infrastructure to promote equity, sustainability and predictability in a manner that allows the State to responsibly provide a safe and reliable state transportation system. The study must focus on funding the state highway and bridge system, but must also consider capital funding of multimodal infrastructure. The commission shall:

1. Determine funding levels necessary to achieve the highway and bridge capital goals set forth in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 23, section 73, subsection 7, paragraphs A to D, including anticipated shortfalls for the next 10 years;

2. Identify mechanisms that will increase the predictability of general obligation bonding levels for capital planning at the Department of Transportation for the state highway and bridge system and multimodal infrastructure for the next 10 years;

3. Identify mechanisms to address the erosion of Highway Fund receipts and the rising inequity caused by higher automobile fuel efficiency and alternative fuel vehicles, such as adding a registration fee surcharge on hybrid, electric or other alternative fuel passenger automobiles;

4. Consider a voluntary pilot program to assess the potential for mileage-based revenue collection as an alternative to the gas tax system;

5. Identify methods to more equitably share the costs of the highway system between residents of this State and nonresidents, including exploring the feasibility of reducing year-round baseline gasoline tax rates and adding a seasonal gasoline tax surcharge;

6. Consider new highway tolling options;

7. Consider adding a wholesale fuel tax component, including options that would reduce baseline per gallon fuel tax rates;

8. Consider adjusting fuel tax rates, including options that can be implemented or eliminated as fuel prices rise due to market forces or increases in the federal fuel tax rates;

9. Consider dedicating a portion of sale tax receipts from transportation-related sales to transportation;

10. Evaluate the likelihood of possible future funds being dedicated to transportation from revenues from potential additional casinos in the State; and

11. Invite knowledgeable stakeholders to provide written and oral comments on draft recommendations of the commission. Knowledgeable stakeholders must include representatives from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Maine, the Maine section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Associated General Contractors of Maine, the Maine Automobile Dealers Association, the Maine Better Transportation Association, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the Mayors' Coalition on Jobs and Economic Development, the Maine Motor Transport Association, the Maine Municipal Association, the Maine Service Center Coalition, the Maine Tourism Association and the Maine Turnpike Authority.

The commission may meet up to 6 times. At least 3 meetings must allow public comment and be held at different locations in the State to allow input from residents of several regions in the State; 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 December 6, 2017, the commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation. The Joint Standing Committee on Transportation may submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature; and be it further

Sec. 8. Funding. Resolved: That the costs of the study under section 5 must be provided from the Highway Fund; and be it further

Sec. 9. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.

LEGISLATURE

Study Commissions - Funding 0444

Initiative: Provides a one-time allocation for the costs of Legislators serving as members of the Commission To Study Transportation Funding Reform.

HIGHWAY FUND	2017-18	2018-19
Personal Services	$2,200	$0
All Other	$3,050	$0
HIGHWAY FUND TOTAL	$5,250	$0

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