1. Form. The state budget document, setting forth a 4-year financial plan for the State Government for each fiscal year of the ensuing biennium and the following biennium, must:
A. Consist of a budget message by the Governor-elect or the Governor that outlines the 4-year financial plan of State Government for the ensuing biennium and the following biennium; [PL 2005, c. 601, §1 (NEW).]
B. Embrace a general budget summary setting forth the aggregate figures of the budget in such a manner as to show the balanced relationship between the total proposed expenditures and the total anticipated revenues together with the other means of financing the budget for each fiscal year of the ensuing biennium, contrasted with the corresponding figures for the last completed fiscal year and the fiscal year in progress. The general budget summary must:
(1) Be supported by explanatory schedules or statements, classifying the expenditures contained therein by organization units, objects and funds and the income by organization units, sources and funds; and
(2) Include a summary and details of programs funded through the Fund for a Healthy Maine, presenting the allocation requirements and projected revenues and other available resources shown in a budget fund flow statement and a comparative statement that presents income sources for revenue projections and allocation estimates by program categories; [PL 2005, c. 601, §1 (NEW).]
C. Include a financial plan for the following biennium with forecasted General Fund, Highway Fund and Fund for a Healthy Maine appropriation requirements and projected revenues by income sources as provided in chapter 151‑B and other available resources shown in a budget fund flow statement and a comparative statement that presents income sources for revenue projections and appropriation estimates by major program categories; [PL 2005, c. 601, §1 (NEW).]
D. [PL 2007, c. 1, Pt. P, §1 (RP).]
E. [PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. R, §1 (RP).]
F. Include statements of the bonded indebtedness of the State Government showing the debt redemption requirements, the debt authorized and unissued and the condition of the sinking funds; [PL 2007, c. 613, §1 (AMD).]
G. Contain any statements relative to the financial plan that the Governor-elect or the Governor considers desirable or that may be required by the Legislature; and [PL 2007, c. 613, §2 (AMD).]
H. Include a long-range plan for State Government. The long-range plan must describe the vision of the Governor-elect or the Governor for State Government for the upcoming biennium and the 2 succeeding biennia and how the proposed biennial budget fits into and moves State Government toward this long-range vision. [PL 2007, c. 613, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. R, §1 (AMD).]
2. Judicial Department appropriations or allocations. If the Governor submits legislation setting forth appropriations or allocations for the Judicial Department that differ from the full budget request submitted by the Judicial Department under Title 4, section 24, the Governor shall simultaneously submit a report to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and judiciary matters explaining why the Governor's budget legislation differs from the Judicial Department's budget submission.
[PL 2005, c. 601, §1 (NEW).]
3. Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability appropriations or allocations. If the Governor submits legislation setting forth appropriations or allocations for the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability that differ from the budget request presented by the Legislative Council on behalf of that office, the Governor shall simultaneously submit a report to the Legislative Council and the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability explaining why the Governor's budget legislation differs from the Legislative Council's budget request.
[PL 2005, c. 601, §1 (NEW).]
3-A. Funding for research and development. Beginning in fiscal year 2008-09, the Governor, when submitting the budget document to the Legislature pursuant to section 1666, shall submit a funding level recommendation for research and development. The recommendation must be transmitted to the Legislature within the time schedules set forth in section 1666. It is the intent of the Legislature that beginning in fiscal year 2009-10 the biennial budget submitted by the Governor must set forth appropriations for research and development that are the equivalent of not less than 1% of total actual General Fund revenue of the previous fiscal year. For each successive year for the next 10 fiscal years, the funding level must increase by at least 2/10 of 1% until funding for research and development is the equivalent to not less than 3% of total actual General Fund revenue of the previous fiscal year. If the Governor's budget sets forth recommendations for research and development that differ from the levels described in this subsection, the Governor shall explain the funding difference in the biennial budget document.
[PL 2007, c. 420, §1 (NEW).]
3-B. Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission appropriations or allocations. If the Governor submits legislation setting forth appropriations or allocations for the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission that differ from the full budget proposal developed under Title 30, section 6212, subsection 6, the Governor shall simultaneously submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters explaining why the Governor's budget legislation differs from that proposal.
[PL 2009, c. 636, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).]
4. Position identification. The Governor, when submitting the budget to the Legislature, shall submit the budget document and the budget bills in a manner that identifies positions authorized by the Legislature for less than 52 weeks in a fiscal year as "Positions - Full-time Equivalent," or "FTE," and positions authorized by the Legislature for 52 weeks in a fiscal year as "Positions - Legislative Count" for all funds. The State Budget Officer shall implement and administer procedures to ensure sufficient FTE and appropriation or allocation control for positions authorized by the Legislature for less than 52 weeks in a fiscal year.
[PL 2005, c. 601, §1 (NEW).]
5. Limit on General Fund appropriation. The total General Fund appropriation for each fiscal year of the biennium in the Governor's budget submission to the Legislature may not exceed the General Fund appropriation limitation established in section 1534.
[PL 2005, c. 601, §1 (NEW).]
