(8) Recommend short-term and long-term strategies, including financing and restructuring alternatives, for mitigating the growth in the offender population and achieving efficiencies in the state and county correctional systems.

4. Staff assistance. The State Planning Office shall provide staffing assistance.

5. 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. 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.

6. Report. The commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including legislation, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over sentencing policies during the Second Regular Session of the 121st Legislature no later than January 2, 2004. The commission is authorized to introduce legislation related to its report to the Second Regular Session of the 121st Legislature at the time of submission of its report.

PART L

Sec. L-1. 5 MRSA §13054, sub-§§1 and 2, as amended by PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. Q, §1, are further amended to read:

1. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Tourism, Economic and Community Development.

2. Department. "Department" means the Department of Tourism, Economic and Community Development.

Sec. L-2. PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. Q, §2 is repealed.