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An Act To Include Tax-exempt, Nonprofit Regional Transportation Providers under the Maine Tort Claims Act
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period in order to facilitate the negotiation of insurance contracts on July 1, 2017 by regional public transportation agencies; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 14 MRSA §8102, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 520, §1, is further amended to read:
 
3. Political subdivision.   "Political subdivision" means any city, town, plantation, county, administrative entity or instrumentality created pursuant to Title 30-A, chapters 115 and 119, incorporated fire-fighting unit that is organized under Title 13-B and is officially recognized by any authority created by statute, quasi-municipal corporation and special purpose district, including, but not limited to, any water district, sanitary district, hospital district, school district of any type, an airport authority established pursuant to Title 6, chapter 10, a tax-exempt, nonprofit regional public transportation agency selected by the Department of Transportation pursuant to Title 23, section 4209, subsection 1, any volunteer fire association as defined in Title 30-A, section 3151, a transit district as defined in Title 30-A, section 3501, subsection 1, a regional transportation corporation as defined in Title 30-A, section 3501, subsection 2, a transit district or regional transportation corporation formed under the laws of another state that would qualify as a transit district or regional transportation corporation under Title 30-A, chapter 163 if formed under the laws of this State and any emergency medical service.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill adds tax-exempt, nonprofit regional public transportation agencies to the Maine Tort Claims Act, which limits liability for governmental entities.