1. State Compensation Commission; membership. The State Compensation Commission, established in Title 5, section 12004‑G, subsection 26‑D and referred to in this section as the "commission," consists of 5 members appointed in January of every odd-numbered year at the first regular session of each Legislature as follows:
A. Two members appointed by the President of the Senate; [PL 2017, c. 242, §1 (AMD).]
B. Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House; and [PL 2017, c. 242, §1 (AMD).]
C. One member appointed by a majority of the members appointed under paragraphs A and B, who serves as chair of the commission. [PL 1997, c. 506, §1 (NEW).]
The 5 members must be residents of the State and appointed from the public. A person may not be appointed who is currently or has previously been a Legislator or a legislative employee.
All members must be appointed for a term to coincide with the legislative biennium. A vacancy must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the balance of the unexpired term.
The members of the commission are entitled to a per diem, expenses and allowances at the same rate as Legislators.
[PL 2017, c. 242, §1 (AMD).]
2. Duties of commission. No later than January 15th of every even-numbered year the commission shall submit to the Legislature and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters a final report of the commission. In the last year of each gubernatorial term of office, the report must contain a recommendation for compensation of the Governor as established in Title 2, section 1. A report under this subsection must contain:
A. A description of the commission's activities; [PL 1997, c. 506, §1 (NEW).]
B. The recommendations of the commission:
(1-A) For the report required in the last year of a gubernatorial term, for compensation for the Governor, including all payments for salaries, meals, housing, travel, mileage, constituent services and all other expenses and allowances;
(1-B) For compensation for justices and judges, including all payments for salaries, meals, housing, travel, mileage and all other expenses and allowances, and for additional services by any justice or judge. Nothing in this subparagraph prevents the judicial branch from making recommendations to the Governor or Legislature for compensation for justices and judges, including, but not limited to, recommendations made by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court in preparing the budget of the judicial branch as required by Title 4, section 1; and
(1-C) For compensation of Legislators, representatives of Indian tribes, Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Senate and Clerk and Assistant Clerk of the House of Representatives, including all payments for salaries, meals, housing, travel, mileage, constituent services and all other expenses and allowances, and for additional services by the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and members of legislative leadership; [PL 2019, c. 384, §1 (AMD).]
C. The reasons for its recommendations; [PL 1997, c. 506, §1 (NEW).]
D. Drafts of any legislation required to implement its recommendations; and [PL 1997, c. 506, §1 (NEW).]
E. Any other material and recommendations that commission members may wish to submit. [PL 1997, c. 506, §1 (NEW).]
Before reporting as required in this subsection and subsequent to giving public notice, the commission shall hold a public hearing on the report. Subsequent to reporting, the commission shall meet, if requested, with the Governor, the Legislative Council and legislative committees to discuss the report.
The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters may introduce a bill based upon the final report of the commission.
[PL 2019, c. 384, §1 (AMD).]
3. Appointments; meetings. The Executive Director of the Legislative Council must be notified by the presiding officers once the appointment of the initial 4 members has been made. Within 15 days of the appointment of the initial 4 members, the Chair of the Legislative Council shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission.
[PL 1999, c. 2, §1 (AMD).]
4. Staff assistance. The commission shall request staff assistance from the Legislative Council.
[PL 1997, c. 506, §1 (NEW).]
5. Legislation. The commission may submit legislation required to implement its recommendations.
[PL 1999, c. 2, §1 (NEW).]
