An Act To Require That a Majority of the Members of the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission Reside in the Commission's Jurisdiction
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §683, first ¶, as corrected by RR 1999, c. 1, §15, is amended to read:
The Maine Land Use Regulation Commission, as established by Title 5, section 12004-D, subsection 1 to carry out the purposes stated in section 681, is created within the Department of Conservation, and in this chapter called the "commission." The commission is charged with implementing this chapter in all of the unorganized and deorganized areas of the State. The commission consists of 7 public members, none of whom may be state employees, who must be appointed by the Governor, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over conservation matters and to confirmation by the Legislature, for staggered 4-year terms. Appointees to the commission must be familiar with the needs and issues affecting the commission's jurisdiction. All appointees must reside in the commission's jurisdiction; work in the commission's jurisdiction; be a former resident or be retired after working within the commission's jurisdiction for a minimum of 5 years; or have expertise in commerce and industry, fisheries and wildlife, forestry or conservation issues as they affect the commission's jurisdiction. In selecting appointees, the Governor shall actively seek and give consideration to persons residing in or near the unorganized areas of the State and to persons residing on unorganized coastal islands. At least 2 4 members must be residents within the commission's jurisdiction. A county commissioner, county employee, municipal official or municipal employee is not considered to hold an incompatible office for purposes of simultaneous service on the commission. If a county or municipality is a participant in an adjudicatory proceeding before the commission, a commissioner, official or employee from that county or municipality may not participate in that proceeding.
summary
This bill requires that a majority of the members of the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission must reside within the jurisdiction of the commission.