Resolve, Providing for the Official Observance of the 200th Anniversary of the Formation of the State of Maine

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

Whereas,  the Maine Bicentennial Commission is established to prepare and administer a plan and program for the celebration of the State's bicentennial; and

Whereas,  the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires so that the commission may begin its work and submit its first report by December 6, 2017; 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, be it

Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the Maine Bicentennial Commission, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further

Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That the commission consists of 22 members as follows:

1. Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;

2. Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

3. One member of the public, appointed by the Governor;

4. The Governor, or the Governor's designee;

5. The President of the Senate, or the President's designee;

6. The Speaker of the House, or the Speaker's designee;

7. The Secretary of State, or the Secretary of State's designee;

8. The State Historian, or the State Historian's designee;

9. The Chancellor of the University of Maine System, or the chancellor's designee;

10. The President of the Maine Community College System, or the president's designee;

11. A representative of a statewide business advocacy organization, appointed by the President of the Senate;

12. A representative of a statewide organization to promote tourism of the State, appointed by the President of the Senate;

13. One member representing prekindergarten to adult education and one member representing private postsecondary education, appointed by the President of the Senate;

14. A representative of a statewide museum organization that promotes the State’s historical and natural heritage, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

15. A representative of a statewide humanities organization that uses humanities as a tool for positive change in the State’s communities, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

16. A representative of a statewide organization that promotes arts and culture in the State, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

17. A representative of a statewide organization that promotes the heritage and history of the State, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

18. A representative of a statewide organization that promotes and enhances the value of state libraries, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

19. A representative of a statewide organization that promotes historical preservation, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and be it further

Sec. 3. Appointment terms. Resolved: That the Legislators appointed to the commission serve terms coincident with their legislative terms and are appointed every 2 years. Legislators may be reappointed to the commission and may continue to serve until their replacements are designated. Other members are appointed for terms that expire December 31, 2020; a vacancy is filled in the same manner as the original appointment; and be it further

Sec. 4. Appointments; chair; convening of commission. 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. When appointment of all members is complete, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission no later than October 16, 2017. The commission shall select a chair from among its legislative members; and be it further

Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall prepare and administer a comprehensive plan and program for the adequate observance and celebration on a statewide basis of the bicentennial anniversary of the formation of the State of Maine, coordinate the programs and activities of all public and private agencies and organizations in the State that are planned for the observation of the anniversary and engage in such other activities as the commission determines necessary and appropriate to carry out the purposes of this resolve; and be it further

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Maine State Cultural Affairs Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further

Sec. 7. Meetings. Resolved: That the commission may hold up to 5 meetings a year, one of which must be a public hearing. The chair may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for additional meetings; and be it further

Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 6, 2017, November 7, 2018, December 4, 2019 and November 4, 2020, the commission shall submit a progress report that includes its findings and recommendations for presentation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs; and be it further

Sec. 9. Funding. Resolved: That the commission may accept donations and contributions from any source to assist it in carrying out the purposes of this resolve. The commission shall keep a record of contributions received and disbursements made and publish that record on the State's publicly accessible website; and be it further

Sec. 10. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.

CULTURAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL, MAINE STATE

State of Maine Bicentennial Celebration N257

Initiative: Provides an ongoing allocation for outside funds received for the State of Maine bicentennial celebration to be used by the Maine Bicentennial Commission.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2017-18	2018-19
All Other	$500	$500
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$500	$500

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