Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

APPROVED             CHAPTER
                                                                APRIL 12, 2024            625
                                                             BY GOVERNOR            PUBLIC LAW
                                  STATE OF MAINE
                                         _____
                         IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
                      TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR
                                         _____
                                H.P. 1454 - L.D. 2265
     An Act to Implement Recommendations Resulting from the State
 Government Evaluation Act Review of the Department of Professional and
                         Financial Regulation
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
   Sec. 1. 2 MRSA §6, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2019, c. 343, Pt. XXX, §1, is further
amended to read:
    2. Range 90. The salaries of the following state officials and employees are within
salary range 90:
   Superintendent of Financial Institutions;
   Superintendent of Consumer Credit Protection;
   State Tax Assessor;
   Associate Commissioner for Tax Policy, Department of Administrative and Financial
   Services;
   Superintendent of Insurance;
   Executive Director of the Maine Consumer Choice Health Plan;
   Two deputy commissioners, Department of Administrative and Financial Services;
   Deputy Commissioner, Department of Corrections;
   Public Advocate;
   Two deputy commissioners, Department of Health and Human Services;
   Chief Information Officer;
   Associate Commissioner, Department of Corrections;
   Chief of the State Police;
   Securities Administrator, Office of Securities; and
   Director, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation.; and
   Deputy Commissioner, Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.
                                  Page 1 - 131LR3143(03)
    Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §934, sub-§1, ¶D, as amended by PL 2001, c. 182, §2, is further
amended to read:
    D. Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner; and
    Sec. 3. 10 MRSA §8002, first ¶, as amended by PL 2011, c. 1, Pt. AA, §1, is further
amended to read:
    The Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation, referred to in this chapter
as the "commissioner," is the chief administrative officer of the department and is
responsible for supervising the administration of the department. The commissioner is
appointed by the Governor, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the
Legislature having jurisdiction over banking and insurance matters, and to confirmation by
the Legislature. The commissioner serves at the pleasure of the Governor. Unless Except
as provided in subsection 13 or unless otherwise provided in law, the commissioner may
not exercise or interfere with the exercise of discretionary regulatory authority granted by
statute to the bureaus, offices, boards or commissions within and affiliated with the
department. As chief administrative officer of the department, the commissioner has the
following duties and authority to:
    Sec. 4. 10 MRSA §8002, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1995, c. 502, Pt. H, §9, is
further amended to read:
     2. Personnel. Except as otherwise specified, appoint and remove, subject to the Civil
Service Law, all personnel considered necessary to fulfill the duties and functions of the
department; appoint an assistant to the a deputy commissioner to serve at the
commissioner's pleasure; and transfer personnel within the department to ensure efficient
utilization of department personnel;
    Sec. 5. 10 MRSA §8002, sub-§11, as amended by PL 2011, c. 603, §2, is further
amended to read:
    11. Report on fees. By December 1st of each even-numbered year, conduct a review
of the fees assessed by the department and provide a written report to the State Budget
Officer and the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over
appropriations and financial affairs, insurance and financial services matters and business,
research and economic development matters identifying any fee changes the commissioner
recommends for the next biennium; and
    Sec. 6. 10 MRSA §8002, sub-§12, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 603, §3, is amended
to read:
    12. Recommend measures. Recommend legislation or other measures to the
Governor and the Legislature for the purpose of assisting current and former members of
the United States Armed Forces in obtaining any professional license within the provisions
of the department related to their relevant training and experience from their military
service.; and
    Sec. 7. 10 MRSA §8002, sub-§13 is enacted to read:
    13. Emergency authority. When a state of emergency is declared pursuant to state
or federal law, temporarily modify or suspend any continuing education requirements,
license expiration dates, examination requirements, license fees or other licensing
requirements as necessitated by the declared emergency. The temporary modification or
                                   Page 2 - 131LR3143(03)
suspension may extend no more than one year beyond the date the state of emergency is
declared.
    Sec. 8. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Administrative Services - Professional and Financial Regulation 0094
Initiative: Allocates ongoing funds for the costs of replacing an Assistant to the
Commissioner position with a Deputy Commissioner position.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS                                 2023-24         2024-25
 Personal Services                                               $0          $19,003
 All Other                                                       $0           $1,411
                                                         __________      __________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL                                $0          $20,414
                                Page 3 - 131LR3143(03)
Statutes affected: 
Bill Text LD 2265, HP 1454: 2.6, 5.934, 10.8002
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 625: 2.6, 5.934, 10.8002