Public Law, Chapter 560, 123rd Legislature, Second Regular Session

Chapter 560 H.P. 1631 - L.D. 2268

An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs Regarding Review of the Maine State Museum Commission under the Government Evaluation Act and To Revise the Review Schedule

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 3 MRSA §959, sub-§1, ¶E, as amended by PL 2005, c. 605, §1, is further amended to read:

E. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs shall use the following list as a guideline for scheduling reviews:

(2) Department of Education in 2005;

(2-A) State Board of Education in 2005;

(3) Maine Arts Commission in 2007 2015;

(5) Maine Historic Preservation Commission in 2007 2015;

(5-A) Notwithstanding section 952, Maine Historical Society in 2007 2015;

(6) Maine Library Commission in 2007 2015;

(6-A) Maine State Cultural Affairs Council in 2007 2015;

(6-B) Maine State Library in 2007 2015;

(6-C) Maine State Museum in 2007 2015;

(7) Maine State Museum Commission in 2007 2015;

(8) Office of State Historian in 2007 2015;

(9) Board of Trustees of the Maine Maritime Academy in 2009;

(10) Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System in 2009;

(12) Maine Community College System in 2009;

(13) Maine Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority in 2011; and

(14) Maine Educational Loan Authority in 2011.

Sec. 2. 27 MRSA §83, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1991, c. 622, Pt. V, §2, is further amended to read:

4. Recommendations. To make recommendations to the Maine State Cultural Affairs Council for such legislation as may be necessary to improve the functioning of the Maine State Museum; and

Sec. 3. 27 MRSA §83, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. P, §1, is further amended to read:

5. Establish fees. To establish fees for admission to the Maine State Museum and miscellaneous services. All revenues derived from these fees must be credited as undedicated revenue to the General Fund . ; and

Sec. 4. 27 MRSA §83, sub-§6 is enacted to read:

6. Designate a private support organization. To designate a nonprofit organization as the private support organization for the Maine State Museum. The designated organization must be incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State, and its sole purpose, as reflected in its bylaws, must be to organize and foster support for the Maine State Museum and the museum’s programs.

The commission shall delegate authority to the Museum Director to permit, without charge and within the museum’s financial means, the appropriate use of fixed property, equipment and facilities of the museum by the private support organization. Such use must be directly in keeping with the approved purposes of the private support organization and must comply with all appropriate state policies and procedures.

The commission’s chair, or the chair’s designee, and the Museum Director, or the director’s designee, must be made nonvoting ex officio members of the private support organization’s board of directors. Other members of the commission may serve in a nonvoting capacity on the board of the private support organization if such service is agreed to by the commission and private support organization's board of directors.

Subject to the approval of the commission, the Museum Director shall negotiate an annual memorandum of understanding between the museum and the private support organization that outlines a plan of work identifying priority projects of mutual benefit and cooperation.

Effective June 30, 2008

Public Laws

123rd Legislature

Second Regular Session

Chapter 560

H.P. 1631 - L.D. 2268