Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §156, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. C, §106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6, c.9, §2 and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is further amended to read:

§156. Creation of position of appointed county

treasurer

1. County commissioners' decision. Notwithstanding sections 151 and 152, the county commissioners, at least 100 days prior to the scheduled election, may decide to abolish replace the position of elected county treasurer and replace it with an appointed county treasurer. This decision is not effective until approved by the voters of the county under subsection 3. The county commissioners must provide notice of their decision to the voters of the county at least 90 days prior to the scheduled election.

2. Petition by voters. On the written petition of a number of voters equal to at least 10% of the number of votes cast in the county at the last gubernatorial election, the county commissioners, by order, shall provide for the abolition of the position of elected county treasurer and its replacement with an appointed county treasurer in the form and manner provided in this section.

A. The petition procedure of section 1321, subsection 3, shall be used in this alternative method except that the legend at the top of each petition form shall read as follows:

"County of ** .......... **

Each of the undersigned voters respectively requests the county commissioners to abolish the position of elected county treasurer and replace it with a county treasurer appointed by the county commissioners."

B. The procedure after the petition is filed is the same as that under section 1321, subsection 4.

3. Election procedure. Within 30 days after a decision under subsection 1 or the receipt of a certificate or final determination of sufficiency under subsection 2, paragraph B, the county commissioners, by order, shall submit the question of the abolition of the position of elected county treasurer and its replacement with an appointed county treasurer to the voters of the county at the next regular or special statewide election.