130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2021
Legislative Document No. 969
H.P. 715 House of Representatives, March 9, 2021
An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for the
Construction of a Convention Center in Portland, Improvements to
the Augusta Civic Center and a Competitive Grant Program for
Capital Improvements to Public Venues across the State
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BAILEY of Gorham.
Cosponsored by Representatives: CROCKETT of Portland, DOORE of Augusta, DOUDERA
of Camden, GEIGER of Rockland, GERE of Kennebunkport, SACHS of Freeport, ZAGER of
Portland, Senator: SANBORN of Cumberland.
Printed on recycled paper
 1 Preamble. Two thirds of both Houses of the Legislature deeming it necessary in
2 accordance with the Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 14 to authorize the issuance
3 of bonds on behalf of the State of Maine to provide funds as described in this Act,
4 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
5 Sec. 1. Authorization of bonds. The Treasurer of State is authorized, under the
6 direction of the Governor, to issue bonds in the name and on behalf of the State in an
7 amount not exceeding $115,000,000 for the purposes described in section 5 of this Act.
8 The bonds are a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State. The bonds may not run for
9 a period longer than 10 years from the date of the original issue of the bonds.
10 Sec. 2. Records of bonds issued; Treasurer of State. The Treasurer of State
11 shall ensure that an account of each bond is kept showing the number of the bond, the name
12 of the successful bidder to whom sold, the amount received for the bond, the date of sale
13 and the date when payable.
14 Sec. 3. Sale; how negotiated; proceeds appropriated. The Treasurer of State
15 may negotiate the sale of the bonds by direction of the Governor, but no bond may be
16 loaned, pledged or hypothecated on behalf of the State. The proceeds of the sale of the
17 bonds, which must be held by the Treasurer of State and paid by the Treasurer of State
18 upon warrants drawn by the State Controller, are appropriated solely for the purposes set
19 forth in this Act. Any unencumbered balances remaining at the completion of the project
20 in this Act lapse to the Office of the Treasurer of State to be used for the retirement of
21 general obligation bonds.
22 Sec. 4. Interest and debt retirement. The Treasurer of State shall pay interest
23 due or accruing on any bonds issued under this Act and all sums coming due for payment
24 of bonds at maturity.
25 Sec. 5. Disbursement of bond proceeds from General Fund bond issue. The
26 proceeds of the sale of the bonds authorized under this Act must be expended as designated
27 in the following schedule under the direction and supervision of the agencies and entities
28 set forth in this section.
29 DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND
30 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
31 Provides funds for the construction of a convention center in Portland.
32 Total $100,000,000
33
32 Provides funds for improvements to the Augusta Civic Center.
34 Total $3,000,000
35
34 Provides funds for a competitive grant program to be administered by the Department of
36
35 Economic and Community Development for capital improvements to municipally
37
36 owned, county-owned and University of Maine System-owned venues used for
38
37 conventions, concerts, sporting events and community events.
39 Total $12,000,000
Page 1 - 130LR1496(01)
1 Sec. 6. Contingent upon ratification of bond issue. Sections 1 to 5 do not
2 become effective unless the people of the State ratify the issuance of the bonds as set forth
3 in this Act.
4 Sec. 7. Appropriation balances at year-end. At the end of each fiscal year, all
5 unencumbered appropriation balances representing state money carry forward. Bond
6 proceeds that have not been expended within 10 years after the date of the sale of the bonds
7 lapse to the Office of the Treasurer of State to be used for the retirement of general
8 obligation bonds.
9 Sec. 8. Bonds authorized but not issued. Any bonds authorized but not issued
10 within 5 years of ratification of this Act are deauthorized and may not be issued, except
11 that the Legislature may, within 2 years after the expiration of that 5-year period, extend
12 the period for issuing any remaining unissued bonds for an additional amount of time not
13 to exceed 5 years.
14 Sec. 9. Referendum for ratification; submission at election; form of
15 question; effective date. This Act must be submitted to the legal voters of the State at
16 a statewide election held in the month of November following passage of this Act. The
17 municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns
18 and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election,
19 to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Act by voting on the following question:
20 "Do you favor a $115,000,000 bond issue for the construction of a
21 convention center in Portland, improvements to the Augusta Civic Center
22 and a competitive grant program for capital improvements to public
23 venues across the State?"
24 The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question
25 and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square
26 below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared
27 in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in
28 the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the
29 returns. If a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of this Act, the Governor shall
30 proclaim the result without delay and this Act becomes effective 30 days after the date of
31 the proclamation.
32 The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all
33 ballots, returns and copies of this Act necessary to carry out the purposes of this
34 referendum.
35 SUMMARY
36 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $115,000,000, will be used for
37 the construction of a convention center in Portland, improvements to the Augusta Civic
38 Center and a competitive grant program for capital improvements to public venues across
39 the State.
Page 2 - 130LR1496(01)