127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 641		LR 369(02)
	RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Elect 2 Senators from Each County
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: State and Local Government
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Current biennium cost increase - General Fund Contingent Current biennium savings - General Fund Contingent Current biennium cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds Contingent Current biennium revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Referendum Costs		Month/Year	Election Type	Question	Length
		Nov-15	General	Referendum	Standard
	The Secretary of State's budget includes sufficient funds to accommodate one ballot of average length for the general election in November.  If the number or size of the referendum questions requires production and delivery of a second ballot, an additional appropriation of $107,250 may be required.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The bill proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to have exactly 32 State Senators and give the voters of each county the right to vote for 2 State Senators. If this amendment to the Constitution of Maine is approved, the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices (Commission) would incur increased costs in administering the Maine Clean Election Act (MCEA) due to an estimated increase in the number of contested primaries. The Commission also expects revenue from increased qualifying contributions to increase by $2,625 in fiscal year 2015-16 and $3,500 in fiscal year 2017-18. The Commission anticipates the need for Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of $217,086 in fiscal year 2015-16 and $306,836 in fiscal year 2017-18 for these increased MCEA costs. The Commission has indicated that it has sufficient resources available to fund these allocations.
	If this amendment to the Constitution of Maine is approved the Legislature would realize savings from a reduction in the number of Senators from 35 to 32. These savings are estimated to be $111,139 in fiscal year 2016-17 and $92,568 in fiscal year 2017-18.