Resolve, to Study Changing the Start of the State Fiscal Year to October 1st

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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1636
S.P. 644 In Senate, April 15, 2025
Resolve, to Study Changing the Start of the State Fiscal Year to
October 1st
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on April 11, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
Appropriations and Financial Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BENNETT of Oxford.
Cosponsored by Senator: ROTUNDO of Androscoggin, Representatives: ARATA of New
Gloucester, GATTINE of Westbrook, SAYRE of Kennebunk.

Page 1 - 132LR1121(01)
1Sec. 1. Working Group to Study Changing the Start of the State Fiscal
2Year established. Resolved: That the Working Group to Study Changing the Start of
3 the State Fiscal Year, referred to in this resolve as "the working group," is established.
4Sec. 2. Working group membership. Resolved: That the working group
5 consists of 12 members, as follows:
6 1. Four members of the Senate, including 2 members of the party holding the largest
7 number of seats in the Legislature and 2 members of the party holding the 2nd largest
8 number of seats in the Legislature, appointed by the President of the Senate;
9 2. Four members of the House of Representatives, including 2 members of the party
10 holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and 2 members of the party holding
11 the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
12 3. Two members who are representatives of municipalities, one each appointed by the
13 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; and
14 4. Two members who are representatives of school administrative units, one each
15 appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.
16Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair
17 and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the working
18 group.
19Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of working group. Resolved: That all
20 appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this
21 resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative
22 Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members,
23 the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the working group. If 30 days or more
24 after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been
25 made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for
26 the working group to meet and conduct its business.
27Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the working group shall explore the option of
28 changing the state fiscal year from the time period covering July 1st to June 30th to the
29 time period covering October 1st to September 30th, including:
30 1. The benefits and detriments associated with that change;
31 2. The impact of that change, including any fiscal impact, on the State and all political
32 subdivisions of the State, including school administrative units;
33 3. Methods for implementing that change, including determining the changes required
34 to accounting systems at the state, county and municipal level;
35 4. Changes to the law necessitated by the change; and
36 5. Any other issues the working group determines relevant.
37Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide
38 necessary staffing services to the working group, except that Legislative Council staff
39 support is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session.
Page 2 - 132LR1121(01)
1Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 3, 2025, the working group
2 shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested
3 legislation, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over
4 appropriations and financial affairs. The joint standing committee is authorized to report
5 out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature based on the
6 recommendations of the working group.
7SUMMARY
8 This resolve establishes the Working Group to Study Changing the Start of the State
9 Fiscal Year to study the feasibility of changing the state fiscal year from the time period
10 covering July 1st to June 30th to the time period covering October 1st to September 30th
11 and the implications for the State, counties, municipalities and school administrative units
12 associated with that change.
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