Sec. 1. Intent of Legislature regarding savings associated with reducing size of Legislature. It is the intent of the Legislature that any savings or reduced costs resulting from the reduction of the size of the Legislature from 186 to 132 Legislators be apportioned as follows:

1. The cost of the redistricting necessary to reduce the size of the Legislature must be paid as the first priority; and

2. Beginning with the 123rd Legislature, the savings after accounting for the redistricting must be apportioned as follows:

A. One-third deposited into the General Fund;

B. One-third used to increase the pay of Legislators to an amount equal to or less than the average wage of residents of the State in equal proportion in both chambers; and

C. One-third used to provide high-speed access and internal networking at the desks of Legislators in both chambers of the State House and in committee.

Any remaining funds after the expenditures in this paragraph must be divided equally and used as specified in paragraphs A and B.

Sec. 2. Contingent effective date. This Act takes effect only if the size of the Legislature is reduced from 186 members to 132 members beginning with the 123rd Legislature.

SUMMARY

This bill, a companion bill to a Constitutional Resolution reducing the size of the Maine Legislature from 151 to 99 Representatives and from 35 to 33 Senators, establishes the manner in which the Legislature intends to apportion the savings that would result from a reduction in the size of the Legislature.