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An Act To Establish the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§74-J  is enacted to read:
 
74-J.   
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA Pt. 31  is enacted to read:
PART 31
PERMANENT COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC POPULATIONS
CHAPTER 631
PERMANENT COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC POPULATIONS
§ 25001. Commission established
The Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations established by section 12004-I, subsection 74-J and referred to in this chapter as "the commission," is an independent commission. The commission shall promote, carry out and coordinate programs designed to improve opportunities for racial and ethnic populations in the State.
§ 25002. Membership
The commission consists of 17 members, including 7 appointed by the Governor, 5 appointed by the President of the Senate and 5 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In making these appointments, the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall consider and appoint residents of the State who have a knowledge of problems facing racial and ethnic populations in the State, who have experience in advocacy relating to racial and ethnic populations' issues and who provide leadership in programs or activities that improve opportunities for racial and ethnic populations. The members of the commission must be chosen from throughout the State, and the majority of members must be members of racial and ethnic populations. A member of the Legislature may not be appointed to the commission. The Governor shall appoint one member representing each of the following: the elderly, low-income people, persons with disabilities, youth, victims of domestic violence and federally recognized Indian tribes in the State.
§ 25003. Term of office
Members of the commission are appointed for 2-year terms. A member may serve multiple terms.
Members of the commission may serve after the expiration of their terms until their successors have taken office. The Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House may terminate the membership of their respective appointees for good cause. The reason for the termination must be communicated in writing to a member whose membership is terminated. The membership of any member of the commission must be terminated if the member is absent from 3 consecutive meetings without communicating good cause to the chair of the commission.
§ 25004. Vacancies
A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed serves only for the remainder of that term and must be appointed by the same appointing authority. Any vacancy on the commission does not affect its powers.
§ 25005. Chair
The Governor shall select a chair from among the members of the commission. The chair is authorized to appoint subcommittees.
§ 25006. Powers and duties
The commission shall advise and consult with the Governor and the Legislature about, and assist them in improving, opportunities for racial and ethnic populations in the State by:
 
1.  Research.     Carrying out research programs necessary to determine the status of racial and ethnic populations in the State;
 
2.  Activities.     Promoting and coordinating activities on state and local levels designed to meet the problems of racial and ethnic populations in the State;
 
3.  Advocate.     Serving as an advocate for racial and ethnic populations in making recommendations on proposed budgetary, legislative and policy actions to the Governor, the Legislature and other officials of the State and the Federal Government with respect to state and federal policies, programs and other activities affecting or relating to racial and ethnic populations in the State;
 
4.  Information.     Informing the public about the presence or absence of opportunities for racial and ethnic populations in the State;
 
5.  Meetings.     Conducting public hearings, conferences, workshops and other such meetings to obtain information about, discuss and publicize the needs of and solutions to the problems of racial and ethnic populations; and
 
6.  Reports.     Making a biennial report to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the work and interests of the commission.
The commission may accept funds from the Federal Government, from a political subdivision of the State or from an individual, a foundation or a corporation and may expend funds for purposes that are consistent with this chapter. Funds received under this section must be deposited in a nonlapsing Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of the Secretary of State to support the work of the commission.
§ 25007. Meetings; compensation
The commission shall meet at the call of the chair not less than 4 times each year.
§ 25008. Staff support
The Secretary of State shall provide staffing support as required.
Sec. 3. Initial members. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 25003, of those members first appointed to the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations, the 4 appointed by the Governor, 2 appointed by the President of the Senate and 2 appointed by the Speaker of the House must be appointed for one-year terms. The term of office of each member must be designated at the time of appointment.
 
SUMMARY
This bill creates the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations to promote, carry out and coordinate programs designed to improve opportunities for racial and ethnic populations.