CHAPTER 316

H.P. 621 - L.D. 870

An Act To Increase Access to Information Regarding

Referendum Questions

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §353, as amended by PL 1991, c. 837, Pt. A, §1, is further amended to read:

§353. Explanation of proposed amendments and statewide referenda

With the assistance of the Secretary of State, the Attorney General shall prepare a brief explanatory statement which that must fairly describe the intent and content of and what a "yes" vote favors and a "no" vote opposes for each constitutional resolution or statewide referendum that may be presented to the people and which that must include any information prepared by the Treasurer of State under Title 5, section 152. The explanatory statement may not include comments of proponents or opponents as provided by section 354. In addition to the explanatory statement, the Secretary of State and the Attorney General shall prepare an explanation of what a yes vote favors and a no vote opposes beginning with the November 2006 election the Office of Fiscal and Program Review shall prepare an estimate of the fiscal impact of each constitutional resolution or statewide referendum on state revenues, appropriations and allocations within 30 days after the adjournment of the legislative session immediately prior to the statewide election when the constitutional resolution or referendum will appear on the ballot. The fiscal impact estimate must summarize the