Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §85-B, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:

1-A.__Authority.__"Authority" means the Maine Port Authority, as established in Title 5, section 12004-F, subsection 8.

Sec. 2. 38 MRSA §85-B, sub-§§5 and 6, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 355, §4, are repealed.

Sec. 3. 38 MRSA §90-A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 355, §13, is further amended to read:

§90-A. Reports; liaison; limitations

On or before August 1st of each year, the commission shall submit to the commissioner authority for the preceding fiscal year ending June 30th its annual report of its operations and financial position, together with those comments and recommendations that the commission considers essential.

The authority shall act as a liaison between the commission and the Governor.

The authority does not have the right to exercise or interfere with the exercise of discretionary, regulatory or licensing authority granted by statute to the commission.

Sec. 4. 38 MRSA §90-B, as amended by PL 1997, c. 727, Pt. C, §18, is further amended to read:

§90-B. Budget

The commission's budget must be prepared and submitted to the commissioner authority for approval.

Sec. 5. 38 MRSA §90-C, as amended by PL 1997, c. 727, Pt. C, §19, is further amended to read:

§90-C. Employees

The commissioner authority may appoint employees as necessary.

Sec. 6. 38 MRSA §100-A, sub-§2, ķA, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 355, §22, is amended to read:

A. To department state employees designated by the commissioner authority;