AUGUSTA — A state legislative task force on Franco-Americans will hold its first public meeting Tuesday.

The task force, established by the 125th Maine Legislature, is charged with gathering basic data about Franco-Americans and finding ways to promote and preserve the Franco-American heritage that is shared by many Maine residents.

Among other things the task force is charged with determining a definition for who is a Franco-American, as well as gathering basic data on the ethnic group, including numbers and numbers of French-speaking Maine residents, according to the legislation that created it.

The task force will work in concert with the University of Maine's Franco-American Center.

On Tuesday, the group's 13 members will hear presentations from the center's Tony Brinkley and Jacob Albert on the demographics of Franco-Americans in Maine.

They will also be presented a report by Christian Potholm of Bowdoin College on the psychographic background of Franco-Americans in Maine.

The meeting is set to start at 1 p.m. in room 126 at the State House.

The task force is fully funded through private contributions and is authorized to hold up to four meetings, according to a press release issued by the Legislature on Monday.

More information about the task force, including authorizing legislation, a task force membership list and meeting agendas, may be found at the Maine Legislature’s website: http://www.maine.gov/legis/opla/francoamerican.htm.

A live audio broadcast of the task force meeting will also be available through the Maine Legislature’s “Legislative Activities Calendar” webpage: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/calendar/