B.__One representative from the League of Women Voters of Maine, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

C.__Two members of the public, one from each of the 2 political parties with the largest number of members in the Legislature, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

D.__Two members of the public, one from each of the 2 political parties with the largest number of members in the Legislature, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and President Pro Tempore of the Senate;

E.__Two representatives of political parties, one from each of the 2 political parties with the largest number of members in the Legislature: one appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and President Pro Tempore of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House;

F.__The Director of the Bureau of Information Services within the Department of Administration and Financial Services or the director's designee; and

G.__Two state election officials, appointed by the Secretary of State.

The appointing authorities shall make their appointments as soon as feasible following the effective date of this section.

2.__Meetings.__The Secretary of State shall call the meetings of the Centralized Voter Registration Advisory Committee whenever the Secretary of State determines necessary.

3.__Compensation.__Members of the advisory committee not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities whom they represent are entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses for their attendance at meetings of the advisory committee.

§193.__Funding

The Secretary of State may apply for and accept federal or other funds for the purpose of developing and implementing a centralized voter registration system.__If matching funds are required to obtain a grant, the Secretary of State may submit legislation to request necessary funds.__Notwithstanding Title 5, section 1587, the Secretary of State may also enter into a

lease-purchase agreement or other similar agreement for the purpose of developing the system.

§194.__Rules

The Secretary of State may adopt rules regarding implementation and administration of a centralized voter registration system to determine the pricing, accessibility and availability of information contained in the database and the appropriate use and resale of that information; to establish a plan to implement the system in stages for all municipal jurisdictions; to identify additional system features or voter information to be included in the system or provide for the confidentiality of certain personal information or limitations on the use and distribution of that information; and to establish a system to identify duplicate records, including establishment of a voter identification indicator.

Rules adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

§195.__Report

The Secretary of State shall report annually, by March 1st, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over voter registration matters on the progress of the implementation of the centralized voter registration system developed pursuant to this subchapter.__The report may include suggested legislation necessary to implement or administer the centralized voter registration system.__The committee may report out legislation regarding the centralized voter registration system to the Legislature during the First Regular Session of the 121st Legislature and any subsequent Legislature.

FISCAL NOTE

This bill authorizes the Secretary of State to develop a centralized voter registration system by 2007. The total future costs resulting from this bill will be significant. The formula for federal funding has not yet been determined. If a state match is required, the amount of that state match, in the form of General Fund appropriations, can not be determined at this time.

SUMMARY

This bill defines "centralized voter registration system" and authorizes the Secretary of State to apply for and receive funds for the establishment of a centralized voter registration

system. The bill establishes the Centralized Voter Registration Advisory Committee to assist the Secretary of State and requires the Secretary of State to develop a pilot program to test a centralized voter registration system and fully implement a centralized voter registration system by December 31, 2007. The Secretary of State is authorized to adopt rules to implement and administer a centralized voter registration system. Such rules would be major substantive rules. The Secretary of State is required to report annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over voter registration matters and may recommend legislation necessary to implement or administer the centralized voter registration system.