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Legislative Council accepts NCSL grant to offer personal information protection service to members
Summary
The Legislative Council on April 14 authorized acceptance of a $37,200 NCSL Legislator Security Fund award to subsidize subscription fees for personal information protection services for legislators, approving a one-year pilot and committing to cover the remaining cost (estimated $56,000 for full enrollment) from legislative funds if needed.
The Legislative Council voted April 14 to accept a National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislator Security Fund award and to pilot a personal information protection subscription for lawmakers.
Director Gresser briefed the council on the program, saying the NCSL has invited each state to apply and that Maine is eligible for a grant “in the amount of $37,200.” She described the eligible service as a data-discovery and removal subscription that provides investigation, removal or suppression of personal information, ongoing monitoring and regular reporting to enrolled members.
Representative Faulkingham moved to accept the grant and allocate the additional funds required to offer the service to all members as a one-year pilot; President Daughtry seconded. Director Gresser told the council a full-legislature subscription would require about $56,000, and she said the council could use projected travel-savings to cover the difference. The council approved the pilot unanimously by those present.
Senator Harrington voiced support for offering the service but urged the council to consider internal accountability measures as well, remarking that “there's been no accountability” for staff who allegedly shared lawmakers’ personal information. No policy action on internal discipline was adopted at the meeting.
The pilot will follow NCSL requirements that any contracted service be offered on a nonpartisan basis to all members and that seats are transferable to successors; members who leave office would not remain enrolled after their terms end. Director Gresser noted rolling application deadlines and an April 30 submission deadline for the NCSL grant.
The council framed the pilot as a temporary measure: if the program proceeds, the next legislative council will decide whether to continue funding the service beyond the one-year pilot.
The council took the vote during its regular meeting and moved on to other agenda items afterward.
