An Act To Create a Position at the Public Utilities Commission

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the Public Utilities Commission partners with the United States Department of Transportation with respect to the federal gas pipeline safety program; and

Whereas,  the Public Utilities Commission has assumed certain gas pipeline safety inspection and enforcement responsibilities from the United States Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and is partially reimbursed by the United States Department of Transportation for the costs associated with carrying out these responsibilities; and

Whereas,  the Public Utilities Commission has contracted for these certain gas pipeline safety inspection and enforcement responsibilities; and

Whereas,  it is the policy of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to contract for this work only on a temporary basis until permanent inspection staff can be obtained; and

Whereas,  the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration expects the Public Utilities Commission to have a permanent inspector position created by the end of the current contract period, which is July 2010; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Public Utilities Commission Regulatory Fund 0184

Initiative: Establishes one Utility Analyst - Public Service Coordinator III position. This position will carry out certain activities related to gas pipeline safety inspection and enforcement.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2009-10	2010-11
Positions - Legislative Count	0.000	1.000
Personal Services	$0	$114,166
All Other	$0	($37,865)
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$0	$76,301

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This bill adds one Utility Analyst - Public Service Coordinator III position at the Public Utilities Commission as required by the policy of the United States Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The Public Utilities Commission partners with the United States Department of Transportation with respect to the federal gas pipeline safety program and has assumed certain gas pipeline inspection and enforcement responsibilities from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The new position is created to carry out these gas pipeline safety inspection and enforcement responsibilities. Funds for this position are allocated from the Public Utilities Commission Regulatory Fund and are partially reimbursed by the United States Department of Transportation.