Sec. 1. 23 MRSA §1965, sub-§2, ¶A, as amended by PL 1995, c. 108, §1, is further amended to read:

A. The authority consists of 4 8 members.__Four members are appointed by the Governor,; 2 members are appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom must represent Maine residents who regularly use the Maine Turnpike; and 2 members are appointed by the Speaker of the House, one of whom must represent Maine residents who regularly use the Maine Turnpike.__The members are subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation and subject to confirmation by the Legislature. The Commissioner of Transportation is a member and the Public Advocate are ex officio members of the authority. The Commissioner of Transportation and the Public Advocate may designate a deputy, director, assistant or other officer or employee of the department each appoint a designee to represent the Commissioner of Transportation and the Public Advocate at meetings of the authority with full power to act and vote on behalf of the Commissioner of Transportation and the Public Advocate. Upon the expiration of the term of office of any member, the Governor appointing authority responsible for making the appointment shall appoint a new member who serves in office for a term of 7 3 years and until a successor is duly appointed and qualified, and any member of the authority is. Members are eligible for reappointment. In the event of a vacancy in the membership of the authority caused by the death, incapacity, resignation or removal of a member, the Governor appointing authority shall appoint a member to fill that vacancy only for the unexpired term of office of the member whose death, incapacity, resignation or removal created the vacancy, but the newly appointed member may be reappointed at the end of the unexpired term in accordance with this subsection. In all events, a member may not be appointed to the authority who is not a resident of the State at the time of the appointment and qualification, or who has not been a qualified voter in the State for a period of at least one year next preceding the appointment.

Sec. 2. 23 MRSA §1965, sub-§2, ¶B, as enacted to by PL 1981, c. 595, §3, is amended to read:

B. Immediately after their appointments, the members of the authority shall enter upon their duties. The Governor shall name one of the appointed members as chairman chair of the authority. The authority shall elect a secretary and treasurer who need not be a member of the authority, and