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Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the following:
‘
‘Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  provisions in this legislation relating to funding levels for telecommunications relay services need to be in place before contracts to provide telecommunication relay services are scheduled to be executed in June 2018; 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,’
Amend the bill in section 3 in subsection 7 in paragraph A in the 14th line (page 1, line 37 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "annually," the following: 'in quarterly installments'
Amend the bill in section 6 in §8704 in subsection 6 in the 4th line (page 4, line 44 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "transfer funds" the following: 'quarterly'
Amend the bill in section 6 in §8704 by inserting after subsection 6 the following:
 
‘7.  Conflicts.     A member of the council may not participate in any decision on any contract entered into by the council under this section if that member has any interest, direct or indirect, in any firm, partnership, corporation or association that is party to the contract. The interest must be disclosed to the council in writing and must be set forth in the minutes of the council.
 
8.  Report.    Beginning December 1, 2019 and annually thereafter, the council shall submit a report to the Public Utilities Commission that details the activities of the council, including all the expenditures the council has made from the fund and how all vendors that the council contracts with for services were selected.’
Amend the bill by inserting after section 6 the following:
‘Sec. 7. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES COUNCIL
 
Telecommunications Relay Services Council Fund N288
 
Initiative: Provides allocations for the annual budget for the Telecommunications Relay Services Council.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$150,000	$600,000	
			
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$150,000	$600,000	
 
’
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following:
‘Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment is the majority report of the committee and it makes the following changes to the bill.
1. It adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause.
2. It specifies that the annual budget request of the Telecommunications Relay Services Council is to be transferred to the Telecommunications Relay Services Council Fund on a quarterly basis by the Public Utilities Commission.
3. It adds a conflict of interest provision.
4. It adds a reporting requirement that directs the council to submit an annual report to the Public Utilities Commission that details the activities of the council and council expenditures and vendor selections.
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)