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An Act To Allow the Establishment of Regional Municipal Utility Districts To Support Telecommunications, Broadband Communications and Energy Infrastructure
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  30-A MRSA §2203, sub-§9  is enacted to read:
 
9.  Included powers.     Without limiting the powers, privileges or authority that may be jointly or cooperatively exercised pursuant to this chapter, any 2 or more parties may enter into an agreement to establish a regional municipal utility district for any or all of the following purposes:
 
A.  To provide or, through public-private partnerships, to support or promote the provision of any of the following:
 
(1) Telecommunications services;
 
(2) Broadband services;
 
(3) Internet services; and
 
(4) Energy generation, transmission or distribution services; and
 
B.  To issue revenue bonds in support of any of the activities undertaken pursuant to paragraph A.
 
Nothing in this subsection exempts a regional municipal utility district from any applicable provisions of Title 35-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the laws governing interlocal agreements to expressly allow an agreement that establishes a regional municipal utility district to provide or, through public-private partnerships, to support or promote the provision of telecommunications services, broadband services, Internet services or energy generation, transmission or distribution services and to issue revenue bonds in support of any of these activities. A regional municipal utility district that seeks to provide services that are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission would be subject to the commission's regulations.