Whereas, it is necessary that this Act take effect prior to the end of the First Regular Session of the 121st Legislature to allow the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters to report out legislation as soon as possible; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 5 MRSA c. 311, as amended, is repealed.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §685-C, sub-§1, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1971, c. 457, §5, is repealed.

Sec. 3. 38 MRSA §956, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 663, §233, is amended to read:

A. The proposed amendment or revision has been submitted to the Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission, the Greater Portland Council of Governments and other appropriate agencies, which shall forward their comments and recommendations, if any, to the commission within 30 days; and

Sec. 4. 38 MRSA §956, sub-§2, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 663, §233, is repealed.

Sec. 5. 38 MRSA §1303-C, sub-§35, as amended by PL 1997, c. 393, Pt. B, §9, is repealed.

Sec. 6. Authority to report out bill. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters shall report out a bill to the First Regular Session of the 121st Legislature to establish a legislative task force. The task force shall make recommendations on the reallocation of State Planning Office functions to other appropriate state or local authorities for those functions not duplicated at the local level.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved, except that