HP0159, LD 203, item 2, Document Text

Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:

‘Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §151, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 129, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§ 151. Standard time

1. Standard time. The standard time for the State is the time as determined by 15 United States Code, Sections 260 to 267.

2. Advancement of time. The State is exempt from the provisions of 15 United States Code, Section 260a providing for an advancement of time during a portion of the year and instead observes Atlantic Standard Time throughout the year without advancement during any period.

Sec. 2. Secretary of State to monitor legislative activities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire; request that United States Secretary of Transportation place Maine in Atlantic Standard Time Zone. The Secretary of State shall monitor legislative activities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire regarding placement of those states in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone. If Massachusetts and New Hampshire adopt legislation requiring those states to be placed in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, the Secretary of State shall submit to the legal voters of this State a referendum question in accordance with section 3.

Sec. 3. Referendum. If Massachusetts and New Hampshire adopt legislation requiring those states to be placed in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, the Secretary of State shall submit to the legal voters of this State a referendum question in accordance with this section. The question must be submitted at the next practicable statewide election held in November following the adoption of the legislation in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

The municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, to vote on the following question:

"Do you favor having the State seek placement in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone and ending observance of daylight saving time?"

The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the returns. If a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the question, the Governor shall proclaim the result without delay

The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.

Sec. 4. Further proceedings if referendum passes. If an election is held pursuant to section 3 and a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the question, the Secretary of State shall request that the United States Secretary of Transportation place the State in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone.

The Secretary of State shall notify the Revisor of Statutes and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters if the United States Secretary of Transportation approves placement of the State in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone.

Sec. 5. Contingent effective date. That section of this Act that repeals and replaces the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, section 151 does not take effect unless the State is placed by the United States Secretary of Transportation in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone.’

summary

This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the bill. It does the following.

1. It adds a provision that requires the Secretary of State to monitor legislative activity in Massachusetts and New Hampshire regarding placement of those states in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone.

2. It provides that if the Atlantic Standard Time Zone is adopted by Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the Secretary of State must submit to the voters of the State a referendum question asking voters to choose if the State should seek placement in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone and opt out of observing daylight saving time.

3. It provides that if the referendum question is approved, the Secretary of State is required to request that the United States Secretary of Transportation place the State in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone.

4. The bill exempts the State from daylight saving time. The amendment provides that if the State is placed by the United States Secretary of Transportation in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, the State no longer observes daylight saving time and Atlantic Standard Time is the standard time throughout the year without advancement during any period.

5. The bill proposes to change the law governing periods of closure for hauling lobster traps. The amendment does not retain that provision.

FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED

(See attached)

HP0159 LD 203	Session - 128th Maine Legislature C "A", Filing Number H-76, Sponsored by		LR 1392 Item 2
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