A Maine Democratic lawmaker is using the state’s “concept draft” policy and the extremely vague bill title “An Act Regarding the Laws of the State of Maine” to conceal a proposal to use taxpayer funds to install security systems at legislators’ homes.
[RELATED: Rep. Laurel Libby Seeks to Eliminate the Use of Place-holding “Concept Drafts” in Augusta…]
The bill would appropriate $450,000 from the state’s general fund to create the “Legislator Residential Security Fund,” which would be used to install security systems in legislators’ homes upon request.
Sen. Teresa Pierce (D-Cumberland) put forward the bill, LD 695, as a concept draft without any co-sponsors.
Concept drafts allow lawmakers to put forward a piece of potentially controversial legislation with just a title, while leaving the text empty.
This conceals the purpose of a bill from the public, often until shortly before a public hearing, which could stop people from organizing to testify for or against a controversial law.
Typically, the title of a bill gives at least some indication of what the concept will be, but Pierce’s title, “An Act Regarding the Laws of the State of Maine,” could seemingly apply to every bill ever considered in the history of the Maine Legislature, since they all regard the laws of Maine.
The sponsor amendment revealing the bill’s purpose was first published on Wednesday, just one week before a public hearing set for 9:00 a.m. on February 18 in the Committee on State and Local Government.
The bill would allow legislators to request the installation of a security system at their homes. As long as the $450,000 fund remains undepleted, taxpayers would pay for the installation of the system and service fees associated with the continued operation of those systems by security personnel.
The Legislative Council would be responsible for selecting a security contractor to undertake the installation and operation of systems through a competitive bidding process.
