An Act To Shorten the Legislative Sessions

Sec. 1. 3 MRSA §2, first ¶,  as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. LL, §1, is further amended to read:

Each member of the Senate and House of Representatives, beginning with the first Wednesday of December 2000 and thereafter, is entitled to $10,815 in the first year and $7,725 in the 2nd year of each biennium, except that if a Legislator who is a recipient of retirement benefits from the federal Social Security Administration files a written request with the Executive Director of the Legislative Council within one week after the biennium commences, the Legislator is entitled to $9,270 in each year of the biennium. Each member of the Senate and the House of Representatives must receive a cost-of-living adjustment in annual legislative salary, except that the percentage increase may not exceed 5% in any year. Beginning December 1, 2001, the salary for each legislative session must be adjusted each December 1st by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for the most recently concluded fiscal year; except that no member of the Senate or the House of Representatives may receive a cost-of-living adjustment in annual legislative salary for the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature. In the 126th Legislature, the salary for each legislative session must be 30% less than the salary paid for each legislative session in the 125th Legislature. Beginning December 1, 2014, this reduced salary for each legislative session is subject to the cost-of-living adjustment described in this paragraph. In addition, each Legislator is entitled to be paid for travel at each legislative session once each week at the same rate per mile to and from that Legislator's place of abode as state employees receive, the mileage to be determined by the most reasonable direct route, except that Legislators may be reimbursed for tolls paid for travel on the Maine Turnpike as long as they have a receipt for payment of the tolls, such tolls to be reimbursed when Legislators use the Maine Turnpike in traveling to and from sessions of the Legislature or in performance of duly authorized committee assignments. Each Legislator is entitled to mileage on the first day of the session, and those amounts of salary and expenses at such times as the Legislature may determine during the session, and the balance at the end of the session.

Sec. 2. 3 MRSA §2, 2nd ¶,  as amended by PL 1985, c. 166, is further amended to read:

The first regular session of the Legislature, after its convening, shall adjourn no later than the 3rd Wednesday in June , except that beginning with the 126th Legislature, the first regular session shall adjourn no later than April 15th, and the 2nd regular session of the Legislature shall adjourn no later than the 3rd Wednesday in April , except that beginning with the 126th Legislature, the 2nd regular session shall adjourn no later than March 15th. The Legislature, in case of emergency, may by a vote of 2/3 of the members of each House present and voting, extend the date for adjournment for the first or 2nd regular session by no more than 5 legislative days, and in case of further emergency, may by a vote of 2/3 of the members of each House present and voting, further extend the date for adjournment by 5 additional legislative days. The times for adjournment for the first and 2nd regular sessions may also be extended for one additional legislative day for the purpose of considering possible objections of the Governor to any bill or resolution presented to him the Governor by the Legislature under the Constitution, Article IV, Part Third, Section 2. A special session of the Legislature shall adjourn no later than 5 legislative days after its convening.

summary

This bill shortens legislative sessions beginning with the 126th Legislature by setting a statutory adjournment date of April 15th for the first regular session and March 15th for the second regular session. It also correspondingly reduces the salary paid to legislators by 30% beginning with the 126th Legislature. It requires a special session of the Legislature to a adjourn no later than 5 legislative days after its convening.