APPROVED CHAPTER
JUNE 26, 2023 319
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE
_____
H.P. 1004 - L.D. 1559
An Act to Advance the State's Public Transit Systems by Reinvigorating the
Public Transit Advisory Council
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 23 MRSA §73, sub-§3, ¶E, as corrected by RR 1991, c. 2, §88, is amended
to read:
E. Meet the diverse transportation needs of the people of the State, including rural and
urban populations and the unique mobility needs of the elderly older adults and
disabled persons with disabilities, including the employment of alternative modes of
transportation;
Sec. 2. 23 MRSA §73, sub-§3, ¶F, as corrected by RR 1991, c. 2, §88, is amended
to read:
F. Be consistent with the purposes, goals and policies of the Comprehensive Planning
and Land Use Regulation Act; and
Sec. 3. 23 MRSA §73, sub-§3, ¶G, as corrected by RR 1991, c. 2, §88, is amended
to read:
G. Incorporate a public participation process in which local governmental bodies and
the public have timely notice and opportunity to identify and comment on concerns
related to transportation planning decisions, capital investment decisions and project
decisions. The department and the Maine Turnpike Authority shall take the comments
and concerns of local citizens into account and must be responsive to them.; and
Sec. 4. 23 MRSA §73, sub-§3, ¶H is enacted to read:
H. Facilitate and support the public transportation systems in the State to achieve
accessibility, affordability and convenience for the average person's mobility needs.
Sec. 5. 23 MRSA §4209-A, sub-§2, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 182, §8, is
amended to read:
B. The following individuals appointed by the commissioner:
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 (1) One representative each from the federally designated planning organizations
for the Bangor, Kittery, Lewiston and Auburn and Portland regions;
(2) One representative of private bus operators;
(3) One representative of a statewide nonprofit organization advocating on behalf
of the elderly older adults;
(4) One representative of a medical provider;
(5) One representative of a business that relies on public transportation an
organization representing the business community with an interest in improving
public transportation;
(6) One representative of a statewide association of planning and development
agencies;
(7) One representative of an organization representing persons with disabilities;
(8) One representative of a nonprofit transit provider Four representatives of 2
separate public or nonprofit transit agencies, 2 of whom represent an urban agency
and 2 of whom represent a rural agency;
(9) One representative of an economic development organization; and
(10) One representative of an organization representing low-income persons.;
(11) One representative of an organization from one of the State's immigrant
communities;
(12) One representative of the State's unhoused community; and
(13) One representative representing youth interests who is 16 years of age or older
and under 25 years of age.
In making appointments, the commissioner shall ensure that rural and urban areas are
represented.
Sec. 6. 23 MRSA §4209-A, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2019, c. 211, §2, is further
amended to read:
4. Terms, vacancies and council chair. A member of the council appointed pursuant
to subsection 2, paragraph B serves for a term of 3 years. Terms must be staggered so that
approximately one-third 1/3 of the council is renewed each calendar year. If a member is
unable to complete the term, the commissioner shall appoint a member from the same
category of members listed in subsection 2, paragraph B as the member who vacated the
council to serve out the unexpired portion of the term. The commissioner shall determine
how the council is to choose a chair and for how long the chair is to serve. The council
shall annually elect a chair and vice chair from among its members, each of whom serves
a term of one year.
Sec. 7. 23 MRSA §4209-A, sub-§4-A, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 211, §2, is
amended to read:
4-A. Meetings and deliberations. The council shall meet at the call of the chair no
less than once 3 times per year at the call of the chair. The council may form subcommittees
and adopt bylaws and other policies to effectively govern its the council's proceedings.
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 Sec. 8. 23 MRSA §4209-A, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2019, c. 211, §2, is further
amended to read:
5. Report. The council shall report on its deliberations and any recommendations by
March 1st of each odd-numbered year to the Governor and the joint standing committees
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters and health and human
services matters. The report must include:
A. An assessment of the level of public transportation services and infrastructure
provided to the public in each geographic region;
B. Recommendations for the level of service and supporting infrastructure that should
be provided and, an estimate of the cost of providing those services and supporting
infrastructure and a recommendation for any necessary additional funding; and
D. A progress report on recommendations contained in the implementation of the most
recent statewide strategic transit plan for the department as well as the quinquennial
locally coordinated plan for regional transit under section 4209, subsection 2.
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Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1559, HP 1004: 23.73, 23.4209
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 319: 23.73, 23.4209