Maine § 12002. - Definitions

§ 12002.. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings.   [PL 1983, c. 812, §39 (NEW).]

1.  Board.  "Board" means any authority, board, commission, committee, council and similar organization, including independent organizations, established or authorized by the Legislature to fulfill specific functions the members of which do not serve full time. "Board" does not include:

A. Any informal advisory organization established exclusively by a state agency to advise the commissioner or director of that agency on an informal basis;   [PL 1983, c. 812, §39 (NEW).]

B. Any authority, board, commission, committee, council and similar organization organized or appointed exclusively by a political subdivision of the State to include regional, county and local planning boards, economic development boards or district, or educational, cultural or recreational boards;   [PL 1983, c. 812, §39 (NEW).]

C. Any authority, board, commission, committee, council and similar organization organized exclusively pursuant to federal law and which does not require authorization by the State;   [PL 1983, c. 862, §39 (NEW).]

D. Any authority, board, commission, committee, council and similar organization organized or authorized exclusively by Executive Order;   [PL 1985, c. 295, §3 (AMD).]

E. Special study organizations as defined in subsection 4;   [PL 1993, c. 489, §1 (AMD).]

F. A joint standing committee of the Legislature or any joint select committee, composed exclusively of Representatives and Senators; and   [PL 1993, c. 489, §2 (AMD).]

G. The Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission, as established in Title 30, section 6212, subsection 1, as part of the Maine Indian Claims Settlement.   [PL 1993, c. 489, §3 (NEW).]

2.  Expenses.  "Expenses" means travel, meals or lodging costs or other necessary costs incurred by a member of a board in the performance of the member's duties as a member of that board. Noonday meal expenses incurred while in attendance at a board meeting or hearing must be considered a reimbursable expense, but may not exceed $5 per meal.

3.  Legislative per diem.  "Legislative per diem" means the per diem authorized by Title 3, section 2, that is paid to Legislators for every day's attendance at meetings held when the Legislature is not in daily session. For the purpose of this subsection, "legislative per diem" does not mean the compensation authorized by Title 3, section 2, that is paid to Legislators for every day's attendance at special sessions of the Legislature.

3-A.  Personal care expenses.  "Personal care expenses" means the cost of feeding, dressing, toileting, mobility and personal hygiene assistance provided to persons who are developmentally or otherwise disabled who are members or the children of members of boards established in this chapter.

4.  Special study organization.  "Special study organization" means any board established or authorized by the Legislature to undertake a study of a particular subject and which is required to complete its study during the biennium of the Legislature which created it.