1.Bank established. There is established a public body corporate and politic to be known as the "Maine Municipal Bond Bank" in accordance with Title 5, chapter 379. The bank is constituted as an instrumentality of the State exercising public and essential governmental functions. The bank's exercise of the powers conferred by this chapter shall be deemed and held to be an essential governmental function of the State. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]
2.Board of commissioners; oath. The bank shall consist of a board of 5 commissioners, including: A. The Treasurer of State who serves as a commissioner ex officio. (1) The Treasurer of State may designate the Deputy Treasurer of State to serve in place of the Treasurer of State; [RR 2015, c. 2, §21(COR).]B. The Superintendent of Financial Institutions, who also serves as a commissioner ex officio. (1) The Superintendent of Financial Institutions may designate a deputy superintendent to serve in place of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions; and [2007, c. 79, §25(AMD).]C. Three commissioners, who must be residents of the State, appointed by the Governor for terms of 3 years. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).] Before entering upon their duties all commissioners shall take and subscribe to an oath to perform the duties of office faithfully, impartially and justly to the best of their abilities. A record of these oaths shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.
[RR 2015, c. 2, §21(COR).]
3.Terms; vacancy; removal. Each commissioner shall hold office for the term of appointment and until a successor has been appointed and has qualified. A commissioner may be reappointed. Any vacancy occurring other than by the expiration of a term shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term. The Governor may remove a commissioner from office for cause after a public hearing. The Governor may suspend a commissioner pending the completion of this hearing. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]
4.Officers of board; exercise of powers. The board of commissioners shall elect one of its members as chair and one as vice-chair and shall appoint an executive director who also serves as both secretary and treasurer. The powers of the bank are vested in the commissioners of the bank in office from time to time. Three commissioners of the bank constitute a quorum at any meeting of the commissioners. Action may be taken and motions and resolutions adopted by the bank at any meeting by the affirmative vote of at least 3 commissioners of the bank. A vacancy in the office of commissioner of the bank does not impair the right of a quorum of the commissioners to exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the bank. The board of commissioners may meet by telephonic, video, electronic or other similar means of communication with less than a quorum assembled physically at the location of a public proceeding identified in the notice required by Title 1, section 406 only if:
A. Each commissioner can hear all other commissioners, speak to all other commissioners and, to the extent reasonably practicable, see all other commissioners by videoconferencing or other similar means of communication during the public proceeding, and members of the public attending the public proceeding at the location identified in the notice required by Title 1, section 406 are able to hear and, to the extent reasonably practicable, see all commissioners participating from other locations by videoconferencing or other similar means of communication; [2015, c. 449, §4(NEW).]B. Each commissioner who is not physically present at the location of the public proceeding and who is participating through telephonic, video, electronic or other similar means of communication identifies all persons present at the location from which the commissioner is participating; [2015, c. 449, §4(NEW).]C. A commissioner who participates while not physically present at the location of the public proceeding identified in the notice required by Title 1, section 406 does so only when the commissioner's attendance is not reasonably practical. The reason that the commissioner's attendance is not reasonably practical must be stated in the minutes of the meeting; and [2015, c. 449, §4(NEW).]D. Each commissioner who is not physically present at the location of the public proceeding and who is participating through telephonic, video, electronic or other similar means of communication has received prior to the public proceeding all documents and materials discussed at the public proceeding, with substantially the same content as those presented at the public proceeding. Documents or other materials made available at the public proceeding may be transmitted to the commissioner not physically present during the public proceeding if the transmission technology is available. Failure to comply with this paragraph does not invalidate an action taken by the bank at the public proceeding. [2015, c. 449, §4(NEW).] [2015, c. 449, §4(AMD).]
5.Surety bonds required. Before issuing any bonds or notes under this chapter, each commissioner of the bank must execute a surety bond in the penal sum of $25,000 and the executive director of the bank must execute a surety bond in the penal sum of $50,000. The surety bonds must be:A. Conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of the office of the commissioner or executive director; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]B. Executed by a surety company authorized to transact business in the State as surety; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]C. Approved by the Attorney General; and [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]D. Filed in the office of the Secretary of State. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).] At all times after the bank issues any bonds or notes, each commissioner of the bank and the executive director shall maintain the surety bonds in full force and effect. The bank shall bear all the costs of these surety bonds.
[1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]
6.Compensation. Each public member of the board of commissioners shall be compensated according to Title 5, chapter 379. All commissioners shall be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their duties under this chapter. Notwithstanding any other law, no officer or employee of the State may be deemed to have forfeited or may forfeit their office or employment or any benefits or emoluments of their office or employment due to accepting the office of commissioner of the bank or performing services in that office. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]
7.Employees. The executive director may employ, upon approval of the board of commissioners, a general counsel, architects, engineers, accountants, attorneys, financial advisors or experts and any other officers, agents and employees who are required and determine their qualifications, terms of office, duties and compensation. The board of commissioners shall fix the duties and compensation of the executive director. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]
Amended by 2016, c. 449,§ 4, eff. 7/29/2016.1987, c. 737, §§A2,C106 (NEW) . 1989, c. 6, (AMD) . 1989, c. 9, § 2 (AMD) . 1989, c. 104, §§C8,10 (AMD) . 2001, c. 44, § 11 (AMD) . 2001, c. 44, § 14 (AFF) . 2007, c. 79, § 25 (AMD) .