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An Act To Remove Restrictions on the Membership of Regional Water Councils
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §6802, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 209, §1, is amended to read:
§ 6802.Regional water councils authorized
Two or more water utilities may organize a regional water council by forming a nonprofit corporation under Title 13-B, the membership of which is not restricted to utilities owning, controlling, operating or managing only water utilitiesworks. A water utility is not required to become a member of a regional water council.
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §6803, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 209, §1, is amended to read:
§ 6803.Council organization
The organizational documents of a regional water council must provide for representation of each member. The documents must specify the organizational structure, the method of withdrawal, the method of terminating the council and the grounds for suspension of member water utilitiesmembers.
Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §6807, sub-§§1 and 3, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 209, §1, are amended to read:
 
1. Expenses.   The member water utilitiesmembers of a regional water council may contribute funds to meet the expenses of the council. Services of personnel, use of equipment and office space and other necessary services may be accepted from members as part of their financial support.
 
3. Report.   A regional water council shall make an annual report of its activities to the member utilitiesits members. The report must be filed with the Public Utilities Commission and the drinking water program of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Sec. 4. 35-A MRSA §6808, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 209, §1, is amended to read:
 
1. Public Utilities Commission.   The commission may receive, obtain and distribute state, federal or other funds supporting regional water council tasks and may provide assistance to regional water councils as appropriate. This subsection does not require the commission to determine the appropriate disbursement of state, federal or other funds among members of a regional water council and does not prohibit a regional water council from obtaining, receiving or disbursing funds without commission involvement.
 
Nothing in this chapter limits the commission's jurisdiction or authority over water utilities or other utilities that fall under the commission's jurisdiction that are members of regional water councils.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the laws regarding the authorization of regional water councils to remove the provision restricting membership to water utilities.