125th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1882		LR 2818(01)
	An Act To Establish a Presidential Primary in the State
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Sen. Raye of Washington
	Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
State Mandate - Funded
State Mandates
	Required Activity				Unit Affected	Local Cost
	Requires municipalities to hold a presidential primary election.				Municipality	Significant statewide
	The required local activities in this bill may represent a State mandate pursuant to the Constitution of Maine.  Unless General Fund appropriations are provided to fund at least 90% of the additional costs or a Mandate Preamble is amended to the bill and two-thirds of the members of each House vote to exempt this mandate from the funding requirement, municipalities may not be required to implement these changes.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This legislation creates a presidential primary election.  The Department of Secretary of State would require a General Fund appropriation of $60,000 in fiscal year 2015-16 for the cost of printing and distribution of ballots, forms, instructions and other materials related to a presidential primary election.
	The legislation also includes language that the state will cover the municipalities' total cost incurred from the election.  A 2006 study conducted by the Maine Municipal Association estimated this cost at $1,000,000.  The Department of Secretary of State would require a General Fund appropriation of $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2015-16 to reimburse municipalities for the cost of the presidential primary election.