Merit Institute Merit

The Maine Government Transparency & Performance Act (ME-GT&P)

Maine state companion to GT&P. Strengthens the Maine Freedom of Access Act, inspector-general independence, and extends state-law whistleblower rewards under the Maine False Claims Act (22 MRSA Chapter 1-A and successor provisions).

THE MAINE GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY & PERFORMANCE ACT (ME-GT&P)

Vehicle: State passage. Maine Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary / State and Local Government.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Maine Government Transparency & Performance Act (ME-GT&P).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that the Freedom of Access Act operates under 1 MRSA Chapter 13; that the Office of the State Auditor operates under 5 MRSA Chapter 11; and that the Maine False Claims Act, 22 MRSA Chapter 1-A (as broadened by Public Law 2023 Chapter 434) authorizes qui tam relators. This Act extends these frameworks consistent with collective bargaining and merit-system protections under 26 MRSA.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH MAINE LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Maine FOAA” means the Freedom of Access Act, 1 MRSA Chapter 13.
  2. (b) “MEFCA” means the Maine False Claims Act, 22 MRSA Chapter 1-A and successor provisions.
  3. (c) “State performance data” means outcome measures published by State agencies.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Maine Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • 1 MRSA Chapter 13 (FOAA).
  • 22 MRSA Chapter 1-A and successor provisions (MEFCA).
  • 26 MRSA §831 et seq. (whistleblower protections).
  • Collective bargaining under 26 MRSA Chapter 9-A and 9-B.

TITLE II — STATE PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD

Sec. 201. Dashboard

  1. (a) The Department of Administrative and Financial Services shall publish a Maine Performance Dashboard in machine-readable form, updated at least quarterly, crosswalked to Federal FPD.

TITLE III — OPEN RECORDS

Sec. 301. FOAA Strengthening

  1. (a) Reduce response time to 5 working days for acknowledgment and 15 working days for production absent extraordinary circumstances under 1 MRSA §408-A.
  2. (b) Mandatory fee waivers for public-interest requesters.
  3. (c) Public Access Ombudsman expanded authority consistent with 1 MRSA §413.

TITLE IV — INSPECTOR-GENERAL INDEPENDENCE

Sec. 401. Inspector-General Protections

  1. (a) Removal for cause only; findings reported to Presiding Officers.
  2. (b) Budgetary and staffing independence for the Office of the State Auditor and agency inspectors general.

TITLE V — WHISTLEBLOWER AND QUI TAM

Sec. 501. MEFCA Strengthening

  1. (a) Amendments to 22 MRSA Chapter 1-A and successor provisions to (i) confirm relator share ranges, (ii) strengthen retaliation remedies under 26 MRSA §831 et seq., (iii) clarify public-disclosure bar.
  2. (b) Full collective-bargaining protections preserved under 26 MRSA Chapters 9-A and 9-B.

TITLE VI — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 602. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect 90 days after adjournment sine die.

Canonical federal version: GT&P. Other Maine bills: ME-ACSA, ME-MEWRA, ME-AI-Workforce.