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DOCUMENT ESTABLISHING THE PRESIDING OFFICERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE ETHICS

The Presiding Officers' Advisory Committee on Legislative Ethics

Whereas, Congressional ethics and ethics laws have been criticized as a result of revelations of abuse as personified by Jack Abramoff and other lobbyists, and

Whereas, the public has demanded a much higher standard of governmental ethics as a result of Congressional ethical transgressions; and

Whereas, some provisions of Maine's current statutes governing Legislative ethics are vague, and in some cases, inconsistent, and

Whereas, the statutes governing Legislative ethics originated in 1975, and some provisions have not been amended since that time, and

Whereas, it is necessary to immediately address this issue to ensure Maine citizens that their legislators in Augusta are meeting the highest ethical standards, now, therefore,

1. Taskforce established. We, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House establish the “Presiding Officers’ Advisory Committee on Legislative Ethics”, referred to in this enabling Declaration of the Presiding Officers as the “Ethics Advisory Committee.”
2. Membership. The task force consists of 15 voting members and two non-voting members appointed as follows.

   A. One member of the public registered in Maine as a Democrat,
   B. One member of the public registered in Maine as a Republican,
   C. One member of the public registered in Maine as a Green-Independent,
   D. Three members of the General Public,
   E. One former member of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices,
   F. Two former members of the Maine Legislature,
   G. Four current members of the Maine Legislature,
   H. Two members representing the interest of citizen lobbyists, and
   I. Two Ex Officio, non-voting members representing the Office of the Attorney General and the Commission on Governmental Ethics and election Practices.

   The President of the Senate shall appoint Senate members, the Speaker of the House shall appoint House members, and the remaining members shall be appointed jointly by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House.

3. Task force chairs. The President and Speaker shall name the chair of the Ethics Advisory Committee.
4. Appointments; convening of task force; number of meetings. When the appointment of all members has been completed, the Presiding Officers shall call and convene the first meeting of the Ethics Advisory Committee. The Ethics Advisory Committee may not meet more than 6 times.
5. Duties. The Ethics Advisory Committee shall examine Maine Statutes related to Maine's legislative ethics laws. In particular the Ethics Advisory Committee shall:

   A. Examine1 MRSA Chapter 25 Subchapter 2; [Legislative Ethics], 3 MRSA Chapter 15 [Lobbyist Disclosure Practices], 17 MRSA §3104, and 17-A Chapter 25 [Bribery and Corrupt Practices] to determine the degree of consistency and effectiveness of these laws.

   B. Examine any other issues that the Ethics Advisory Committee considers important and relevant to maintaining high ethical standards among Legislative members.

   C. The Ethics Advisory Committee shall not undertake a review of campaign finance laws, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices

6. Staff assistance. The Presiding Officers shall provide for the necessary staffing services to the Ethics Advisory Committee.
7. Compensation. The members of the Ethics Advisory Committee force who are Legislators are entitled to receive the legislative per diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses for attendance at authorized meetings of the task force.
8. Report. The Ethics Advisory Committee shall submit its report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Presiding Officers no later than November 22, 2006. The Presiding Officers may submit the legislation to the First Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature.
9. Extension. If the Ethics advisory Committee requires a limited extension of time to complete its study and make its report, it may apply to the Presiding Officers, who may grant an extension. Upon submission of its required report, the Ethics Advisory Committee terminates.
10. Ethics Advisory Committee workplan. The chair of the Ethics Advisory Committee, within 30 days after its first meeting, shall present a work plan to the Presiding Officers for their joint approval. The Ethics Advisory Committee may not incur expenses that have not been previously approved by the Presiding Officers.