HP0658
LD 956
First Regular Session - 124th Maine Legislature
 
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LR 1733
Item 1
Bill Tracking Chamber Status

RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Provide Constitutional Protection to the Funds Generated by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be proposed:

Constitution, Art. IX, §24 is enacted to read:

Section 24. Revenues generated by regional greenhouse gas initiative. All revenues derived from the sale of carbon dioxide allowances and any forward capacity market or other capacity payments from the regional transmission organization that may be attributable to projects funded by the energy and carbon savings trust must be expended solely to support the goals and implementation of the carbon dioxide cap-and-trade program. The trust fund may not be used for any other purpose, no efforts may be made to reduce, impair, postpone or terminate the amount of revenues to be deposited in the fund, and money in the trust fund is considered to be held in trust for the purposes of benefiting consumers.

; and be it further
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date. Resolved: That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question:

"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to ensure that all revenues derived from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative be expended solely to support the goals and implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative?"

The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment, the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation; and be it further

Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.

SUMMARY

This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to ensure that all revenues derived from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative be expended solely to support the goals and implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.


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