An Act To Extend from 4 to 6 Terms the Limits on Legislative Terms

Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §553, sub-§1,  as enacted by IB 1993, c. 1, §1 and affected by §2, is amended to read:

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §553, sub-§2,  as enacted by IB 1993, c. 1, §1 and affected by §2, is amended to read:

Sec. 3. Application. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 21-A, section 553, subsections 1 and 2, a person elected to serve a 4th consecutive term as a state Senator in the 123rd Legislature is ineligible to serve as a state Senator in the 124th Legislature, and a person elected to serve a 4th consecutive term as a member of the state House of Representatives in the 123rd Legislature is ineligible to serve as a member of the state House of Representatives in the 124th Legislature.

Sec. 4. Statutory referendum procedure; submission at election; form of question; effective date. This Act must be submitted to the legal voters of the State at a statewide election held in the month of November following the passage of this Act. The municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Act by voting on the following question:

"Do you favor extending term limits for Legislators from 4 to 6 terms?"

The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the returns. If a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of this Act, the Governor shall proclaim the result without delay and this Act becomes effective 30 days after the date of the proclamation.

The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this Act necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.