Resolve, To Establish a Task Force To Ensure Equity in the Benefits Provided to Military Service Members

Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: That the Task Force to Ensure Equity in the Benefits Provided to Military Service Members in the State, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," is established; and be it further

Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: That the task force consists of 9 members as follows:

1. Two members of the Senate serving on the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs, appointed by the President of the Senate;

2. A representative of the American Legion, appointed by the President of the Senate;

3. Three members of the House of Representatives serving on the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

4. A representative of an honor guard association within the State, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

5. A representative of the Department of Maine Marine Corps League, appointed by the Governor; and

6. The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management or the commissioner's designee; and be it further

Sec. 3. Compensation. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, public members of the task force are not entitled to reimbursement for their expenses; and be it further

Sec. 4. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representives member is the House chair of the task force; and be it further

Sec. 5. Appointments; convening of task force. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the task force. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the task force to meet and conduct its business; and be it further

Sec. 6. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall study the benefits established for military service members and veterans in the State and develop recommendations to ensure the benefits are being provided. The task force shall ascertain if there is equity in the establishment, provision and application of these benefits and if the benefits are known to those eligible to receive them. The benefits include, but are not limited to, property tax exemptions, free automobile registration, automobile sales tax exemption, complimentary and reduced-rate licenses to hunt, trap and fish and day use passes to state parks and historic sites; and be it further

Sec. 7. Staff assistance. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force; and be it further

Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 2, 2015, the task force shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. The joint standing committee is authorized to introduce a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 127th Legislature related to the subject matter of the report.

summary

This resolve establishes the Task Force to Ensure Equity in the Benefits Provided to Military Service Members in the State. The task force is directed to study and find out if there is equity in the establishment, provision and application of the benefits and if the benefits are known to those eligible to receive them. The benefits include, but are not limited to, property tax exemptions, free automobile registration, automobile sales tax exemption, complimentary and reduced-rate licenses to hunt, trap and fish and day use passes to state parks and historic sites. The task force is also directed to submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs, and the joint standing committee is authorized to introduce a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 127th Legislature based on that report.