An Act To Reallocate Funds for a Position at the Public Utilities Commission

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

Whereas,  Public Law 2009, chapter 372 transferred 17 positions from the Conservation Administration Fund program at the Public Utilities Commission to the Efficiency Maine Trust; and

Whereas,  one of those positions, a Staff Accountant position, was funded 80% by the Conservation Administration Fund program and 20% by the Emergency Services Communication Bureau program at the Public Utilities Commission; and

Whereas,  the Staff Accountant position will be transferred to the Efficiency Maine Trust July 1, 2010; and

Whereas,  the Public Utilities Commission has ongoing accounting responsibilities pursuant to Public Law 2009, chapter 372, including gathering data related to and determining the assessment on transmission and distribution utilities to collect funds for conservation programs and administrative costs, collecting the assessments from utilities and remitting the assessments to the Efficiency Maine Trust; and

Whereas,  the Emergency Services Communication Bureau work remains at the Public Utilities Commission and has increased; and

Whereas,  the Public Utilities Commission has increased accounting responsibilities associated with increased activities in its dig safe program and as a result of the receipt of federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds related to regulatory activity on electricity and smart-grid issues; 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,

Sec. 1. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Emergency Services Communication Bureau 0994

Initiative: Continues one Staff Accountant position transferred in Public Law 2009, chapter 372 from the Conservation Administration Fund program at the Public Utilities Commission to the Efficiency Maine Trust by transferring the position to the Public Utilities - Administrative Division program, reallocating a portion of the costs and increasing the allocation from 20% to 40% in the Emergency Services Communication Bureau program.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2009-10	2010-11
Personal Services	$0	$26,672
All Other	$0	$20
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$0	$26,692

Public Utilities - Administrative Division 0184

Initiative: Continues one Staff Accountant position transferred in Public Law 2009, chapter 372 from the Conservation Administration Fund program at the Public Utilities Commission to the Efficiency Maine Trust by transferring the position to the Public Utilities - Administrative Division program, reallocating a portion of the costs and increasing the allocation from 20% to 40% in the Emergency Services Communication Bureau program.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2009-10	2010-11
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	0.000	1.000
Personal Services	$0	$40,018
All Other	$0	$1,153
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$0	$41,171

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2009-10	2010-11
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	$0	$67,863
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$0	$67,863

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

SUMMARY

This bill reallocates funds for a Staff Accountant position at the Public Utilities Commission. Funds for this position are allocated from the Public Utilities - Administrative Division program and the Emergency Services Communication Bureau program.