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An Act To Make Technical Corrections to the Laws Governing the Indian Representatives to the Legislature
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  current law authorizes the inclusion of a representative of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians in the Maine House of Representatives beginning with the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature in January 2012; and
Whereas,  this legislation clarifies that, for the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature, the member selected to represent the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians may be appointed rather than elected by the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians; 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.  PL 2009, c. 636, Pt. A, §3   is amended to read:
Sec. A-3. Initial Representative of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. The Tribal Clerk of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians shall, on or before the day preceding the meetingof the convening of the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature, furnish to the Clerk of the House of Representatives a certification of the name and residence of the Representative-electmember of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians appointed by the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians to represent it to the Legislature.
Sec. 2.  PL 2009, c. 636, Pt. A, §4  is enacted to read:
Sec. A-4.  Salary, expenses and travel of initial Representative of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, for the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature, the member of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians appointed by the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians to represent it to the Legislature is entitled to a salary equal to the salary of a member of the Senate or House of Representatives.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
Current law authorizes a member of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians elected by it to represent the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians to the Legislature. This bill makes technical corrections to the law to clarify that, for the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature, the member may be appointed rather than elected by the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.