Whereas, a commission to recognize veterans of the Vietnam War in the State House Hall of Flags was established by the 119th Legislature; and

Whereas, the commission was required to file its final report and to terminate on November 1, 2000; and

Whereas, the commission, which consists of 5 public, nonlegislative members, requires additional time to complete its work; and

Whereas, the plaque and flag or flags selected by the commission will be placed in the State House Hall of Flags; and

Whereas, renovations to the State House Hall of Flags have required the removal and temporary storage of most historical items, artwork and plaques displayed in the Hall; and

Whereas, the State House Hall of Flags renovations are not expected to be completed until the summer of 2002; and

Whereas, the process to solicit and select designs and to raise the necessary funds to produce the plaque and flag or flags chosen by the commission could not be completed by the original report deadline; 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 enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §155, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 455, §15, is amended to read:

§155. Reimbursement fund

The Maine National Guard may provide services in accordance with section 181-A, subsections 4 and 5 and section 183 for federal, state, county, regional and municipal governments and agencies and nongovernmental entities and may charge for those services. The fees collected must first be allocated for funding the cost of providing those services, and any remaining fees may be expended only within the Military Bureau.