Joint Order To Amend the Joint Rules Regarding Committee Structure

ORDERED, the Senate concurring, that the Joint Rules be amended by amending Joint Rule 301 to read:

Rule 301. Joint Standing Committee Responsibilities and Jurisdiction.

Joint standing committees are formed to assist the Legislature in the performance of its constitutional duties and are vested with the general authority granted in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 165 and certain other specific authority granted from time to time by the Legislature. The responsibilities of joint standing committees include, but are not limited to:

1. Pending Legislation. Considering and reporting to both chambers on legislation pending before the Legislature;

2. Budget and Fiscal Policy Issues. Reviewing and making recommendations on budgeting and fiscal policy issues concerning State Government;

3. Actions of Departments and Agencies. Conducting oversight and review of the actions of departments and agencies of State Government, including, but not limited to, review of agency rules under Title 5, chapter 375, subchapters II and II-A and agency evaluations under the State Government Evaluation Act;

4. Gubernatorial Appointments. Reviewing and making recommendations on gubernatorial appointments that require legislative confirmation under Title 3, chapter 6; and

5. Other Tasks. Performing other tasks assigned to them, including, but not limited to, reviewing specific provisions of law, conducting studies on assigned topics, issuing reports on policy and legal issues of interest to the Legislature, reporting out specific legislation pursuant to joint order and authorizing the annual budgets of certain counties.

There are established 16 17 joint standing committees, which must be appointed at the commencement of the first regular session and which exercise jurisdiction in the following areas: