Representative Michael Perkins

Organization	Score	Source
Maine People's Alliance (MPA), 2019	0 of 10	Maine People's Alliance, 2019
Maine People's Alliance, Will of the Voters, 2018	0%	Maine People's Alliance Will of the Voters, 2018
Maine People's Alliance, 2018	0%	Maine People's Alliance, 2018
Maine Conservation Voters (MCV), 2019	2 of 7	Maine Conservation Voters, 2019
Maine Conservation Voters, 2018	1 of 8, 1 absence	Maine Conservation Voters, 2018
Maine Conservation Voters, 2017	1 of 7, 1 absence	Maine Conservation Voters, 2017
Maine AFL-CIO, 2019	1 of 10	AFL-CIO, 2019
Maine AFL-CIO, 2017	10%	No longer available online
Maine Women's Lobby, 2019	0 of 7	Maine Women's Lobby, 2019
Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund, 2019	2 of 6	Planned Parenthood ME Action Fund, 2019
Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund, 2017	25%	Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund, 2017
Firearms Control, 2019	1 of 7	This website, see below for roll calls included.

Scorecards are an organization's means of holding legislators accountable to the organization's interests and values. Each organization chooses a subset of bills that are a priority for them, and then scores each legislator by the legislator's vote relative to what would be the organization's preferred vote on the bill.

For a listing of the votes included on scorecards prior to 2019, see the hyperlinked sources given in the table above or the "Explanations, Legislative Scorecards" tab on this site. For 2019 scorecards, see the hyperlinked site given in the table above or the vote detail below, "Roll Call Vote Detail for 2019 Scorecards."

The graphs below are frequency histograms that show this representative's score relative to the scores of all representatives by placing an "X" over this representative's score. In all graphs, D is Democrat (blue), R is Republican (red) and Ind is Independent (black). For graphs prior to 2019, additional parties include Common Sense Independent (goldenrod) and Green Independent (green).

Maine People's Alliance Will of the Voters graph

Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund 2019 graph

Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund 2017 graph

Roll Call	Bill	Motion	MPA vote	Representative's vote
16	LD 179 An Act to Change the Name of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass	Yea	Nay
250	LD 255 Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Require that Signatures on a Direct Initiative Come from Each Congressional District	Final Passage as a Constitutional Amendment (requires 2/3 of membership)	Nay	Yea
272	LD 308 An Act to Increase Notification Time Periods for Rent Increases and Terminations of Tenancies at Will	Reconsider passage after Governor's veto	Yea	Nay
75	LD 369 An Act to Support Healthy Workplaces and Healthy Families by Providing Paid Sick Leave to Certain Employees	Accept Committee Report A, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-79	Yea	Nay
278	LD 420 An Act to Amend the Maine Exclusion Amount in the Estate Tax	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-610	Yea	Nay
70	LD 820 An Act to Prevent Discrimination in Public and Private Insurance Coverage for Pregnant Women in Maine	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-210	Yea	Nay
237	LD 949 An Act to Prevent Overdose Deaths	Accept Majority Report, Ought Not to Pass	Nay	Yea
306	LD 1177 An Act to Improve Public Sector Labor Relations	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-308	Yea	Nay
182	LD 1282 An Act to Establish a Green New Deal for Maine	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-413	Yea	Nay
307	LD 1317 An Act to Restore Services to Help Certain Noncitizens Meet Their Basic Needs	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-248	Yea	Nay
	Total for Representative Perkins:	Present for 10 votes, agreed on 0 votes, 0 percent agreement

Roll Call	Bill	Motion	MCV vote	Representative's vote
37	LD 289 An Act to Prohibit the Use of Certain Disposable Food Service Containers	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-49	Yea	Nay
293	LD 1494 An Act to Reform Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-49	Yea	Nay
157	LD 1532 An Act to Eliminate Single-use Plastic Carry-out Bags	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-392	Yea	Nay
209	LD 1679 An Act to Promote Clean Energy Jobs and to Establish the Maine Climate Council	Enact as an Emergency measure (2/3 of members required)	Yea	Yea
282	LD 1711 An Act to Promote Solar Energy Projects and Distributed Generation Resources in Maine	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-295	Yea	Nay
208	LD 1775 An Act to Protect Sustenance Fishing	Enact	Yea	Yea
329	LD 1851 An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Land Conservation, Water Access, Outdoor Recreation, Wildlife and Fish Habitats and Farmland and Working Waterfront Preservation	Enact as a bond issue (requires 2/3 present)	Yea	Nay
	Total for Representative Perkins:	Present for 7 votes, agreed on 2 votes, 29 percent agreement

Roll Call	Bill	Motion	AFL-CIO vote	Representative's vote
227	LD 240 An Act To Allow Public Employers of Teachers to Negotiate Regarding Educational Policies	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-518	Yea	Nay
75	LD 369 An Act To Support Healthy Workplaces and Healthy Families by Providing Earned Paid Sick Leave to Certain Employees	Accept Committee Report A, Ought to Pass as amended by Commitee amendment S-79	Yea	Nay
306	LD 1177 An Act To Improve Public Sector Labor Relations	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment S-308	Yea	Nay
111	LD 1232 An Act To Ensure the Right To Work without Payment of Dues or Fees to a Labor Union as a Condition of Employment	Accept Majority Report, Ought Not to Pass	Yea	Nay
182	LD 1282 An Act To Establish a Green New Deal for Maine	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-413	Yea	Nay
120	LD 1459 An Act To Expand Application of the Maine Agricultural Marketing and Bargaining Act of 1973 to Harvesters and Haulers of Forest Products	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass	Yea	Nay
206	LD 1524 An Act To Prevent Wage Theft and Promote Employer Accountability	Enact LD 1524 as amended by Commitee amendment S-203	Yea	Nay
195	LD 1560 An Act Regarding Utility Reorganizations	Enact LD 1560 as amended by Committee amendment S-192 as an emergency measure	Yea	Yea
156	LD 1564 An Act To Authorize Project Labor Agreements for Public Works Projects	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment S-158	Yea	Nay
190	LD 1658 An Act To Clarify Prevailing Wage Rates on State Projects Using Federal Funds	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment S-200	Yea	Nay
	Total for Representative Perkins:	Present for 10 votes, agreed on 1 votes, 10 percent agreement

Roll Call	Bill	Motion	Vote to agree	Representative's vote
199	LD 37 An Act To Allow for the Sale of Nonprescription Drugs through Vending Machines	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-466	Yea	Nay
28	LD 278 An Act Regarding Pay Equality	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-28	Yea	Nay
75	LD 369 An Act To Support Healthy Workplaces and Healthy Families by Providing Earned Paid Sick Leave to Certain Employees	Accept Report A, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-79	Yea	Nay
246	LD 820 An Act To Prevent Discrimination in Public and Private Insurance Coverage for Pregnant Women in Maine	Enact LD 820 as amended by Committee amendment H-210	Yea	Nay
80	LD 1025 An Act To Prohibit the Provision of Conversion Therapy to Minors by Certain Licensed Professionals	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-213	Yea	Nay
114	LD 1261 An Act To Authorize Certain Health Care Professionals To Perform Abortions	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass	Yea	Nay
307	LD 1317 An Act To Restore Services To Help Certain Noncitizens Meet Their Basic Needs	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment H-248	Yea	Nay
	Total for Representative Perkins:	Present for 7 votes, agreed on 0 votes, 0 percent agreement

Roll Call	Bill	Motion	Vote to agree	Representative's vote
199	LD 37 An Act To Allow for the Sale of Nonprescription Drugs through Vending Machines	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment H-466	Yea	Nay
No roll call; passed under gavel	LD 78 An Act To Facilitate Access to the MaineCare Family Planning Benefit	Enact LD 78 as amended by Committee amendment H-132	Yea	Yea assumed (i.e., no objection)
153	LD 494 An Act To Update the Family Planning Statutes	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as amended by Committee amendment S-151	Yea	Nay
246	LD 820 An Act To Prevent Discrimination in Public and Private Insurance Coverage for Pregnant Women in Maine	Enact LD 820 as amended by Committee amendment H-210 and amended by Senate amendment S-275	Yea	Nay
114	LD 1261 An Act To Authorize Certain Health Care Professionals To Perform Abortions	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass	Yea	Nay
No roll call; passed under gavel	LD 1580 An Act To Protect Licensing Information of Medical Professionals	Enact LD 1580 as amended by Committee amendment H-631	Yea	Yea assumed (i.e., no objection)
	Total for Representative Perkins:	Present for 4 votes, agreed on 0 votes, 0 percent agreement

Roll Call	Bill	Motion	Vote to agree	Representative's vote
204	LD 379 An Act To Protect Children by Requiring the Safe Storage of Loaded Firearms	Accept Majority Report, Ought Not to Pass	Nay	Yea
211	LD 533 An Act To Eliminate the Statutory Duty To Retreat and Affirm the Right of Self-defense	Accept Majority Report, Ought Not to Pass	Yea	Nay
252	LD 1099 An Act To Reduce Suicides and Violent Crimes by Requiring a 72-hour Waiting Period after the Sale of a Firearm	Accept Majority Report, Ought Not to Pass	Nay	Yea
253	LD 1276 An Act To Better Enforce the Prohibition against Dangerous Persons Possessing Firearms	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-274	Yea	Nay
296	LD 1312 An Act Regarding Access to Firearms by Extremely Dangerous and Suicidal Individuals	Accept Report A, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-285	Yea	Nay
235	LD 1470 An Act To Allow the Prohibition of Weapons at Public Proceedings and Voting Places	Accept Majority Report, Ought Not to Pass	Nay	Yea
315	LD 1811 An Act To Enhance Personal and Public Safety by Requiring Evaluations of and Judicial Hearings for Persons in Protective Custody Regarding Risk of Harm and Restricting Access to Dangerous Weapons	Accept Majority Report, Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee amendment S-357	Yea	Yea
	Total for Representative Perkins:	Present for 7 votes, agreed on 1 votes, 14 percent agreement

LD 39	Resolve, To Designate a Bridge in Waterville as the Specialist Wade A. Slack Memorial Bridge	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Finally passed, Signed into law March 14, 2019
LD 39 This resolve designates Bridge 1457 on Interstate 95, which crosses Main Street in the City of Waterville, the Specialist Wade A. Slack Memorial Bridge. LD 39 Chaptered Law LD 39 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 165

An Act To Prohibit the Use of Handheld Phones and Devices While Driving

Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-317, Enacted, Signed into law June 27, 2019

LD 165
This bill repeals the provision of law that prohibits a person who has been issued a learner's permit from operating a motor vehicle while using a handheld electronic device or mobile telephone. It repeals the section of law that prohibits minors from operating a motor vehicle while using a handheld electronic device or mobile telephone and also repeals the section of law that prohibits any person from operating a motor vehicle while engaging in text messaging.

The bill incorporates the definition of "mobile telephone" into the definition of "handheld electronic device." It excludes text messaging from the definition of "using" to reflect the different penalties for using a handheld electronic device and for text messaging while operating a motor vehicle.

The bill expands the prohibition on minors and a person who has been issued a learner's permit operating a motor vehicle while using a handheld electronic device to prohibit all persons operating a motor vehicle from using a handheld electronic device.

The bill includes exceptions to the prohibition against using a handheld electronic device while operating a motor vehicle that allow for hands-free operation of the device and for using a handheld electronic device to communicate with law enforcement or emergency services personnel under emergency circumstances. The exceptions do not apply to text messaging.

The bill provides that the penalty for a first offense of the prohibition against using a handheld electronic device while operating a motor vehicle is $75 and the penalty for a 2nd or subsequent offense within a 3-year period is $150.

Amendment S-317
This amendment makes the following changes to the bill.

1. It creates a fund within the Department of Transportation for fine revenue collected in the enforcement of the prohibition on the use of handheld electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle on a public way.
2. It makes definitions uniform across the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A for restrictions on the use of handheld electronic devices and mobile telephones and on texting by drivers, drivers operating with an intermediate license and drivers operating with a learner's permit.
3. It clarifies that there is no exception for using a handheld electronic device or mobile telephone while a motor vehicle is stopped in traffic, but does permit use when a car is pulled over in a safe location.
4. It incorporates exceptions for radios, hands-free features, medical devices, ignition interlock devices, which are part of the operating equipment of the motor vehicle, and electronic logging devices and other equipment permitted under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations.
5. It creates an exception for contacting emergency services personnel in emergency situations.
6. It defines and makes an exception for the use of handheld electronic devices and mobile telephones in hands-free mode for certain drivers.
7. It adds an appropriations and allocations section.

LD 165 Chaptered Law
LD 165 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 261	An Act To Restrict the Authority for Posting of Roads	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 7, 2019
LD 261 This bill requires publicly available written justification for imposing restrictions on a public way for more than 6 weeks, prohibits the imposition of size and weight restrictions for vehicles on a public way when the ambient air temperature is below 31 degrees Fahrenheit and protects the ability of a commercial entity to operate its vehicles on the public way where it is headquartered or where it is conducting its business activities.

LD 319	An Act To Standardize the Laws Concerning Property Transfers and To Protect Water Quality	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 19, 2019
LD 319 This bill extends to inland shoreland areas the requirement that subsurface waste water disposal systems on property located within a shoreland area be inspected prior to a sale of the property. Currently, that inspection requirement applies only to the sale of property located within a coastal shoreland area.

LD 342	An Act To Require a Person To Notify Law Enforcement Officers of the Possession of a Hypodermic Needle	Status: Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 5, 2019
LD 342 This bill establishes the failure to inform a law enforcement officer of a person's possession of a hypodermic apparatus as a Class D crime. Under the bill, if a person discloses the possession of a hypodermic apparatus as required, the hypodermic apparatus and any contents of the apparatus are inadmissible as evidence in a prosecution for a violation of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, chapter 45.

LD 368	An Act To Redefine Geographic Association for Multiple-employer Welfare Arrangements	Status: Referred to Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-49, Enacted, Signed into law May 8, 2019
LD 368 This bill replaces the requirement that a multiple-employer welfare arrangement based on geographic association must be established by an association with a principal office in a location within a 40-mile radius of the principal place of business of eligible employers with a requirement that the arrangement must be established by an association with a principal office located in the State. Amendment S-49 This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment repeals the provision authorizing a multiple-employer welfare arrangement based on geographic association and removes cross-references to that provision. The amendment authorizes a multiple-employer welfare arrangement by an association with employer members representing multiple trades, industries or professions. The amendment also restores the ability of the Superintendent of Insurance to authorize a separate community rate for fully insured association health plans for multiple employers. LD 368 Chaptered Law LD 368 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 380	An Act To Revise the Calculation of Tolls Established for the Maine State Ferry Service	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, February 4, 2020
LD 380 This bill requires the Department of Transportation, by rule, to establish ferry tolls for each route of travel that are based upon the cost of service for vehicles, freight and passengers, and allows the department to provide discounted tolls for frequent usage of the Maine State Ferry Service. This bill also requires that the Marine Highway account must fund 100% of the capital costs and no more than 75% of the operating costs of the Maine State Ferry Service.

LD 458	An Act To Require Motorists To Yield to Transit Buses	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-129, Enacted, Signed into law June 5, 2019
LD 458 This bill requires an operator of a vehicle to yield the right-of-way to a transit bus traveling in the same direction if the transit bus has signaled and is reentering the traffic flow from a bus stop or shoulder of the roadway. Amendment S-129 This amendment strikes and replaces the bill. The amendment requires that the operator of a vehicle on a public way that has a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less must yield the right-of-way to a transit bus that has an illuminated yield sign on the left side of the rear of the bus and the bus driver has activated a turn signal to reenter the traffic flow from a bus stop or shoulder on the roadway. The amendment also clarifies the definition of "transit bus." LD 458 Chaptered Law LD 458 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 572

An Act Regarding the State Bird

Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 19, 2019

LD 572
This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to specify the black-capped chickadee or the boreal chickadee as the state bird.

LD 586	An Act Regarding the Department of Transportation's Use of Sediment Erosion Control Systems	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 7, 2019
LD 586 This bill requires the Department of Transportation to specify whether a biodegradable or nonbiodegradable sediment erosion control system will be used for a project by the department and requires that nonbiodegradable sediment erosion control systems be removed with 90 days of a project's completion.

LD 589	Resolve, Directing the State Board of Education To Adopt Rules Prohibiting Teachers in Public Schools from Engaging in Political, Ideological or Religious Advocacy in the Classroom	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 7, 2019
LD 589 This resolve directs the State Board of Education to adopt major substantive rules prohibiting teachers in public schools from engaging in political, religious or ideological advocacy in the classroom or from introducing any controversial subject matter that is not germane to the topic of the course being taught, with penalties for violations up to and including termination of the teacher. This resolve requires the State Board of Education to provide written notice of the rules to all affected teachers, parents and students and for teachers to receive annually at least 3 hours of continuing teacher education to instruct the teachers on the rules. Finally, this resolve requests professional teacher organizations and unions to voluntarily adopt an educator's code of ethics and professional responsibility that incorporates the rules and that specifically prohibits teachers in kindergarten to grade 12 instruction from using the classroom for political indoctrination.

LD 597	Resolve, To Establish a Pilot Project Authorizing the Use of Traffic Surveillance Cameras on Castine Road in Orland (By request)	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 14, 2019
LD 597 This resolve directs the Department of Transportation to establish a pilot project allowing the use of traffic surveillance cameras to prove or enforce a violation of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A on Castine Road in Orland and requires the department to submit a report evaluating the results of the pilot project to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters by January 15, 2021.

LD 648	An Act To Improve Reporting of Operating Under the Influence Offenses	Status: Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-152, Enacted, Signed into law May 16, 2019
LD 648 This bill requires the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police, State Bureau of Identification to maintain separate categories in its uniform crime reporting for offenses that involve operating under the influence of alcohol, offenses that involve operating under the influence of intoxicating substances other than alcohol and offenses that involve operating under a combination of alcohol and other intoxicating substances. Amendment H-152 This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment requires the Department of Public Safety, State Bureau of Identification to report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters regarding the incidence of operating under the influence offenses pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 2411. The report must include separate categories for offenses involving operating under the influence of alcohol, for offenses involving operating under the influence of intoxicating substances other than alcohol and for offenses involving operating under the influence of a combination of alcohol and other intoxicating substances. The report is due by April 1st each year beginning in 2020. LD 648 Chaptered Law LD 648 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 664	An Act To Organize Biannual County Meetings for Local School Boards	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, April 11, 2019
LD 664 This bill requires the State Board of Education to organize a biannual meeting in each county for the school boards in each county to engage in peer-to-peer discussions, develop new ideas and review proposed rule changes by the Department of Education and other policies and issues impacting school administrative units. Each school board may send up to 3 representatives, and the state board shall send at least one representative to the biannual county meeting. Costs for a biannual county meeting must be split between the state board and the school administrative units in that county.

LD 844	An Act To Prohibit Driverless Commercial Vehicles	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 23, 2019
LD 844 This bill prohibits the operation of a commercial motor vehicle that does not have a driver in the vehicle.

LD 851	Resolve, To Effect Economies of Scale in Maine's Transportation Funding	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 7, 2019
LD 851 This resolve directs the Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority to study their holdings and operations and propose reorganizations effecting efficiencies in both the department and the authority leading to economies of scale within the State's transportation funding regime. The department and the authority are directed to report to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation the results of their study and any suggested legislation by January 15, 2020. The joint standing committee is authorized to report out a bill regarding the report to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.

LD 924	An Act To Remove the Background Check Requirement for Maine Guides Who Are at Least 70 Years of Age and Hold a Lifetime Hunting or Fishing License	Status: Referred to Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 26, 2019
LD 924 This bill exempts a registered Maine guide who holds a senior lifetime hunting, fishing, trapping or archery license from the requirement to undergo a background check when renewing the guide license if the guide has undergone a background check when the guide was 68 years of age or older.

LD 970	An Act To Encourage Policies Regarding Accessory Dwelling Units under Local Comprehensive Plans and Zoning Requirements	Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-179, Enacted, Signed into law May 23, 2019
LD 970 This bill directs municipalities to develop policies in the comprehensive planning process that provide for accessory dwelling units, which are dwelling units located within a detached single-family dwelling unit. Amendment H-179 This amendment expands the definition of "accessory dwelling unit" to include a dwelling unit attached to and detached from another single-dwelling unit. It clarifies that municipalities are encouraged to develop policies in the comprehensive planning process that provide for accessory dwelling units, but it does not require municipalities to permit accessory dwelling units. It reorganizes the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 4236, subsection 3-A, paragraph G for ease of understanding. LD 970 Chaptered Law LD 970 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 984

Resolve, To Develop Plans To Return to the State Children Housed in Residential Treatment Systems outside of the State

Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-352, Finally passed, Signed into law June 6, 2019

LD 984
This resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate with families of children who are receiving certain services out of state to develop plans to bring the children back to the State to receive the required services and care. The resolve also suspends current contracts regarding any psychiatric residential treatment facility licensed by the department and prohibits the department from issuing new contracts for such facilities. The suspension and moratorium are lifted 30 days after the department submits a report, as required by this resolve, to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs and the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services regarding the adequacy of beds and staffing levels in those facilities and the need to increase the MaineCare reimbursement rate to allow for additional facilities or staffing.

Additionally, the resolve provides funding to increase rates in rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefi\ts Manual, Chapter III, Section 65, Behavioral Health Services, Children's Home and Community Based Treatment and Section 97, Appendix D, Principles of Reimbursement for Child Care Facilities by 30% no later than October 1, 2019.

Amendment H-352
This amendment removes from the resolve the sections relating to psychiatric residential treatment facilities and increasing MaineCare reimbursement rates under rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 65 and Section 97, Appendix D. The amendment requires the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate reimbursement rates with providers to provide services to children returning to the State, including deviating from reimbursement rates established by department rules in order to access additional services.

LD 984 Chaptered Law
LD 984 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1002

An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, Highway Fund and Other Funds, and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2019, June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021 (Emergency)(Governor's Bill)

Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-624, Enacted as an emergency measure, Signed into law June 20, 2019

LD 1002
This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.<\p>

This bill as emergency legislation proposes to make unified appropriations and allocations for the expenditures of State Government, Highway Fund and other funds and change certain provisions of the law necessary to the proper operations of State Government for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2019, June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, as submitted by the Governor pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5.

The documents submitted by the Governor may be found here: https://legislature.maine.gov/ros/9634.

Amendment H-624
PART A
This Part makes allocations of funds for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021.

PART B
This Part recognizes an increase in the attrition rate for the 2020-2021 biennium from 1.6% to 5% for judicial branch and executive branch departments and agencies.

PART C
This Part requires the State Controller to carry forward any unexpended balances in the Personal Services and All Other line categories in the Department of Secretary of State, Administration - Motor Vehicles program, after all financial commitments for salary, benefits and other obligations and budgetary adjustments have been made, at the end of fiscal year 2018-19 to fiscal year 2019-20 and at the end of fiscal year 2019-20 to fiscal year 2020-21, to the All Other line category in the Department of Secretary of State, Administration - Motor Vehicles program to be used for the procurement and implementation of an automated driver's license testing system.

PART D
This Part allows the Commissioner of Transportation to use funds in the Multimodal Transportation Fund to make loans to counties, municipalities, state agencies and quasi-state government agencies for multimodal forms of transportation.

PART E
This Part allows the Maine Municipal Bond Bank to issue up to $75,000,000 of GARVEE bonds for highway and bridge needs.

PART F
This Part requires the State Controller to transfer amounts exceeding $100,000 from the unallocated balance in the Highway Fund, after all commitments have been met, to the Highway and Bridge Capital, Highway Light Capital and Maintenance and Operations programs within the Department of Transportation for capital needs.

PART G
This Part authorizes the Commissioner of Transportation to transfer Highway Fund Personal Services balances available at the end fiscal years 2019-20 and 2020-21 to the Department of Transportation, Highway and Bridge Capital, Highway Light Capital and Maintenance and Operations programs for capital or all other needs. The funds may be allocated by financial order upon the recommendation of the State Budget Officer and the approval of the Governor.

PART H
This Part requires the State Controller to transfer $6,345,967 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $6,404,253 in fiscal year 2020-21 from the unallocated surplus of the Highway Fund to the TransCap Trust Fund.

PART I
This Part allows TransCap Trust Fund nonbond funds to be used for capital projects with an anticipated useful life of 5 years or more.

PART J
This Part repeals the section of law that excludes the Marine Highway account within the Highway Fund from the Local Road Assistance Program calculation.

PART K
This Part provides allocations to increase by 5% the base salary of one Public Service Executive I position and one Public Service Manager II position within the Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles. This Part also requires the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Human Resources to make a corresponding change to the bureau's rules governing compensation.

LD 1002 Chaptered Law
LD 1002 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1252	An Act Regarding Snowmobile Registration Fees	Status: Referred to Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, May 23, 2019
LD 1252 This bill requires an annual additional $30 snowmobile registration fee, unless the registrant can show proof of membership in a snowmobile club in the State. It specifies that for a resident family residing in the same household the additional fee is $30 for up to 4 snowmobiles. Lastly, it requires the transfer of $20 collected from this additional fee to the Snowmobile Trail Fund and the transfer of $10 collected from this additional fee to the Snowmobile Enforcement Fund.

LD 1367

An Act To Preserve and Protect the State's Rail Corridors

Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, June 3, 2019

LD 1367
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to preserve and protect the rail corridors of the State for future railroad use and maintain all rail corridors in a condition that allows for their resuming railroad service.

The bill prohibits a rail corridor from being converted into or operated as a trail, used as a pathway or space for walking or biking, used for any other form of nonmotorized travel or recreation or used as a bus line without first being evaluated for passenger railroad service.

LD 1400

An Act To Improve Recruitment and Retention in State Law Enforcement by Offering Retirement Service Credit

Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-495, Enacted, Signed into law June 21, 2019

LD 1400
This bill allows a member of the State Employee and Teacher Retirement Program or the Participating Local District Retirement Program to purchase up to 4 years of service credit for time served as a full-time law enforcement officer prior to membership.

It also allows a member of either program who served as a full-time active duty member of the United States Armed Forces during the Cold War, measured from January 1, 1947 to December 27, 1991, before becoming a member and who separated from the armed forces under conditions other than dishonorable to purchase service credit. This service credit is capped at 4 years for members of the State Employee and Teacher Retirement Program and 5 years for members of the Participating Local District Retirement Program.

Amendment H-495
This amendment replaces the bill. It allows a member of the State Employee and Teacher Retirement Program or the Participating Local District Retirement Program to purchase up to 4 years of service credit for time served as a full-time law enforcement officer prior to membership at full actuarial cost if the member has at least 15 years of creditable service at the time of retirement. The amendment also requires that the member certify that the service credit to be purchased has not and will not be used to obtain other retirement benefits. The amendment also clarifies that the purchase of service credit for time served as a full-time law enforcement officer may be applied to the requirement for creditable service of 25 years under the 1998 Special Plan.

LD 1400 Chaptered Law
LD 1400 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1555

An Act To Improve Highway Maintenance Safety

Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-206, Enacted, Signed into law June 17, 2019

LD 1555
This bill amends current law to allow vehicles engaged in highway maintenance or in emergency rescue operations by emergency management and public safety agencies and public service vehicles to be equipped with auxiliary lights that emit a combination of amber and white lights or any shade between amber and white. It also allows the use of green lighting for any highway maintenance vehicle that is operating under the direction of the Department of Transportation or the Maine Turnpike Authority.

This bill also amends current law to allow the Maine Turnpike Authority to remove a vehicle from the Maine Turnpike if it is improperly parked, abandoned or interfering with snow removal in the same manner that the Department of Transportation may remove such a vehicle on a road under its jurisdiction. It also clarifies that a 3rd-party agent such as an independent contractor working for the Department of Transportation or the Maine Turnpike Authority is entitled to the same immunity from liability for these removals as employees of the department or authority.

Amendment S-206
This amendment clarifies that a municipal public works vehicle or vehicle operating under direction of the Department of Transportation or the Maine Turnpike Authority may be equipped with green, white or amber auxiliary lights, which may be located on the front, rear or sides of the vehicle and may flash, oscillate, strobe or blink.

This amendment also makes minor technical changes to section 2 of the bill.

LD 1555 Chaptered Law
LD 1555 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1604	An Act To Authorize General Fund Bond Issues To Improve Highways, Bridges and Multimodal Facilities (Governor's Bill)	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1604 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $100,000,000 in both 2019 and 2020, will be used for reconstruction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges and for facilities or equipment related to ports, harbors, marine transportation, freight and passenger railroads, aviation, transit and bicycle and pedestrian trails, matching an estimated $137,000,000 per year in federal and other funds.

LD 1627	An Act To Authorize the Use of Autocycles	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-487, Enacted, Signed into law June 17, 2019
LD 1627 This bill defines an autocycle as a 3-wheeled motorcycle that has a steering wheel or handlebars, floor pedals for automotive-style controls and seating that does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride a seat and establishes provisions for registration and operator licensing. Amendment H-487 This amendment clarifies that an autocycle is subject to the general motorcycle inspection standards, except those that do not apply to the design of the vehicle, and any other inspection standards set by the Chief of the State Police. This amendment also clarifies that an autocycle may not be operated abreast with any motor vehicle within the same lane. LD 1627 Chaptered Law LD 1627 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1714	Resolve, Directing the Secretary of State To Enter into a Reciprocal Agreement between the State and Taiwan Regarding Driver's Licenses	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322, Reported out with unanimous Committee report, Ought Not to Pass, January 30, 2020
LD 1714 This resolve directs the Secretary of State to begin negotiations toward the development of a reciprocal agreement between the Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Taiwan for reciprocity, beginning January 1, 2021, in issuing driver's licenses to residents of this State who reside in Taiwan and to Taiwanese citizens who reside in this State.

LD 1782	An Act To Amend the Motorcycle Rider Education and Driver Education Laws	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-510, Enacted, Signed into law June 17, 2019
LD 1782 This bill amends the motorcycle rider education laws to clarify that a person who completes a motorcycle rider education course approved by the Secretary of State on a 2-wheel motorcycle may operate a 2-wheel or 3-wheel motorcycle and that a person who completes a motorcycle rider education course approved by the Secretary of State on a 3-wheel motorcycle may only operate a 3-wheel motorcycle. A person who holds a motorcycle learner's permit and who completes a motorcycle road test administered by the Secretary of State on a 3-wheel motorcycle is also restricted to the operation of a 3-wheel motorcycle. The bill requires motorcycle rider education schools to be licensed, submit to inspections and establish a place of business. The bill also amends the driver education program laws to require that the 2 instructors who serve on the Secretary of State's Technical Review Panel be licensed in the curriculum and training being reviewed. The bill removes the authorization for the State to bring an action in Superior Court to enjoin a person from violating the driver education laws, as the penalties under those laws are administered by the District Courts. Amendment H-510 This amendment makes the following changes to the bill. 1. It clarifies the motorcycle rider education course provisions. 2. It clarifies that a motorcycle rider education school must continually comply with the requirements to obtain or renew a motorcycle rider education school license. 3. It clarifies which records must be retained by a motorcycle rider education school for 5 years. 4. It clarifies the penalty provisions contained in the bill and makes failure to comply with motorcycle rider education instructor standards and requirements a traffic infraction. LD 1782 Chaptered Law LD 1782 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1783

An Act To Amend the Motor Vehicle Laws

Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-588, Enacted, Signed into law June 19, 2019

LD 1783
This bill is the Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles' omnibus bill. The bureau is recommending several changes to the motor vehicle laws to facilitate program administration and to bring administrative fees more in line with actual costs.

It amends the enforcement provision governing dealers, transporters and automobile graveyards to change investigators to motor vehicle detectives to match the current job title.

It replaces the requirement that an applicant for an original motor vehicle registration submit a dealer's certificate with the requirement that the applicant submit a properly completed bill of sale. It replaces the requirement that a municipal official retain from the use taxes collected a fee of $1.25 for each vehicle with a requirement that the Secretary of State be reimbursed by the State Tax Assessor $1.25 per use tax certificate processed. It requires registration certificates to be forwarded to the Secretary of State as well as the State Tax Assessor.

It amends the law allowing the Secretary of State to refuse to issue or to recall a vanity plate having language that encourages violence or may result in an act of violence or other unlawful activity to remove express language stating that it is the Secretary of State who makes the finding regarding the language.

It repeals the requirement that the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife submit a new sportsman registration plate design every 6 years.

It repeals the trailer transit plate provision from the law regarding temporary registration plates and enacts the language of the provision in the law regarding special dealer licenses and plates. It makes a violation of that provision a traffic infraction and specifies a trailer transit plate expires annually at the end of March.

It removes the 10-year authorization period for recognition license plates.

It reduces the minimum number of registrations required for eligibility for the 25-year permanent registration program for semitrailers from 30,000 to 20,000.

It repeals the moratorium on commemorative veteran decals, which ran from October 1, 2009 to October 1, 2014.

It clarifies that International Registration Plan credentials may be presented in electronic format.

It changes the retention period for information pertaining to a scrapped vehicle from one year to 5 years to bring it into compliance with the record requirements for salvage vehicle recyclers. It adds an accuracy requirement to allow for a penalty for recyclers who incorrectly record information for scrapped vehicles of model years 1995 to 1999 and makes a violation a traffic infraction.

It amends the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 667, regarding salvage vehicles, to change the reporting requirements due date in the provisions regarding surrender and cancellation of a certificate of title or certificate of salvage from "immediately" to within 30 days. It adds scrap processors to the list of persons to whom an owner must have transferred a vehicle for which a certificate of salvage has not been issued in order for that vehicle to be deemed declared by the owner to be a salvage vehicle. It also allows a salvage dealer, recycler or scrap processor to retain possession of a certificate of salvage until the recycler scraps or dismantles the vehicle and requires that 30 days after the scrapping or dismantling of the vehicle the certificate of title or certificate of salvage must be delivered to the Secretary of State for cancellation. It repeals the current requirement regarding the surrender of the certificate of title or certificate of salvage.

It requires a salvage dealer, recycler or scrap processor to obtain the vehicle seller's name and address from a government-issued photograph identification document or credential. It requires a licensed mobile crusher to maintain an operator log for each of its locations, which must include the make, model, model year and vehicle identification number of each vehicle crushed and the date of the action.

It adds the requirement for recyclers to use the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System as required by federal law and regulation.

It provides for the issuance of a commercial learner's permit for one year.

It provides a motorcycle driver education instructor a hearing pursuant to Title 29-A, chapter 23, subchapter 2, article 3 when refused an instructor's license or the instructor's license is suspended or revoked.

It allows the Secretary of State to suspend, revoke or refuse to issue or renew a driver education school or instructor license or deny a driver education program certificate of completion for just cause or for noncompliance with statutory or regulatory requirements.

It provides that a driver's license or non-driver identification card of a person under 21 years of age must bear a distinctive layout or marking rather than a distinctive color code.

It eliminates the sticker designation for a deaf or hard-of-hearing person and replaces it with a distinctive marker or code on the person's driver's license or non-drive identification card.

It clarifies that when any change is made to a driver's license, non-drive identification card, registration certificate or learner's permit that requires that an updated credential be issued, it is considered a duplicate for processing purposes.

It includes vehicles of the Attorney General's office and the Secretary of State's office in the definition of "police vehicle" in the law governing emergency and auxiliary lights.

It removes the requirement that the Secretary of State report annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters on the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program.

Amendment H-588
This amendment removes the section of the bill dealing with the suspension and revocation of instructors' licenses. This amendment defines "life support transport vehicle," adds those vehicles to the list of authorized emergency vehicles, adds restrictions on their use of emergency lights and sirens and authorizes the Commissioner of Transportation to adopt rules concerning those vehicles. This amendment requires that a person issued temporary registration plates maintain a written record on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State and submit that form upon renewal of a dealer license.

LD 1783 Chaptered Law
LD 1783 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1875	An Act Regarding the Naming of Bridges and Designating Bridge 5818 as the Specialist Wade A. Slack Memorial Bridge	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, both chambers accepted unanimous Committee report, Ought to Pass, House engrossed, February 6, 2020, Senate action pending
LD 1875 This bill requires the Department of Transportation to designate Bridge 5818 on Interstate 95, which crosses Main Street in the City of Waterville, the Specialist Wade A. Slack Memorial Bridge. The bill also requires the department, when designating a bridge in this State with a specific name, to deem separate bridges that run parallel to one another on the same highway as one bridge for the purposes of that designation. LD 1875 fiscal note

LD 222	An Act To Prohibit Child Care Providers from Requiring Payment during Vacation Closures	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 21, 2019
LD 222 This bill prohibits a nursery school, a certified family child care provider, a licensed child care facility or a person who provides day care in that person's home for one or 2 children whose care is paid for by state or federal funds from charging any fee for any period of time the provider is closed because the provider is on vacation. It prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from reimbursing providers of child care services or recipients for child care services for any period of time the provider is closed because the provider is on vacation.

LD 225	An Act Regarding Transportation Management Software and School Bus Replacement	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, April 4, 2019
LD 225 This bill establishes in statute the criteria for the replacement of conventional and transit-style school buses through the Department of Education and prohibits the department from requiring a school administrative unit to use a specific brand of routing and transportation management software.