An Act To Reapportion the Congressional Districts of the State

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

Whereas,  current law provides for the reapportionment of Maine's congressional districts in 2013; and

Whereas,  the United States District Court has ruled that Maine may not wait until 2013 to redraw its 2 congressional districts to reflect population shifts, but must instead redraw the districts in time for the congressional election in 2012; 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Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1205, sub-§§1 and 2,  as enacted by PL 1993, c. 628, §2, are repealed and the following enacted in their place:

Sec. 2. Congressional district reapportionment. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 21-A, section 1206, subsection 1, enactment of this Act reapportions the congressional districts of the State.

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

SUMMARY

This bill is the minority report of the Commission to Reapportion Maine's Congressional Districts.

Under this bill, the First District consists of the counties of Androscoggin, Cumberland, Oxford and York and the following municipalities and areas within Franklin County: Avon, Carthage, Chesterville, Farmington, Jay, Rangeley Plantation, Sandy River Plantation, Township 6 North of Weld, Township D, Township E, Weld and Wilton. The Second District consists of the counties of Aroostook, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo and Washington and the following municipalities and areas within Franklin County: Alder Stream Township, Beattie Township, Carrabasset Valley, Chain of Ponds Township, Coburn Gore, Coplin Plantation, Dallas Plantation, Davis Township, Eustis, Freeman Township, Gorham Gore, Industry, Jim Pond Township, Kibby Township, Kingfield, Lang Township, Lowelltown Township, Madrid Township, Massachusetts Gore, Merrill Strip Township, Mt. Abram Township, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Perkins Township, Phillips, Rangeley, Redington Township, Salem Township, Seven Ponds Township, Skinner Township, Stetsontown Township, Strong, Temple, Tim Pond Township, Washington Township and Wyman Township.