AUGUSTA (AP) – Gov. John Baldacci held ceremonies Thursday to mark the enactments of two high-profile pieces of legislation.

In Bangor on Thursday morning, the governor signed the so-called racino bill and also outlined an executive order to create a gambling control advisory council.

“The council is created to begin developing recommended rules and procedures and making such other recommendations as it believes may be helpful to the board, once the board is fully constituted,” the executive order declares.

The actual legislation does not become effective until July 29.

“I’m here today to not only sign this legislation but to tell you directly that the efforts by our legislators and myself (have) been to enhance the people’s will and to start a racino operation in Maine that has robust regulation and the necessary oversight,” Baldacci said in prepared remarks at Husson College.

The new board will regulate slot machines at harness racing tracks where local voters have also given their go-ahead for the racinos. Bangor is the only community that has done so.

The measure also sets a formula under which slot revenues will be distributed.

Named to the board were broadcaster George McHale of Orrington, Bangor lawyer Jean Deighan, former Saco legislator Peter Danton, retired state police officer Larry Hall of Dedham and small businessman Mike Peters of Dixfield.

Maine voters approved a referendum question last November to allow slot machines at race tracks.

Penn National Gaming Inc., which hopes to install up to 1,500 slot machines at Bangor Raceway, said it was reviewing its options after the racino bill won final legislative approval. Penn National dislikes some tax provisions in the bill.

But Penn National issued a statement after Baldacci signed the bill Thursday saying that while it’s working its way through several issues in the bill, “we are preparing to move forward with a project in Bangor.”

“We will be working very closely with the City of Bangor to develop a project we hope its citizens will be proud of, and we look forward to working with the governor and the Legislature to begin the process of getting this economic engine up and running as expeditiously as possible,” said the statement from Eric Schippers, vice president of public affairs for Penn National.

Back at the State House on Thursday afternoon, Baldacci signed a bill to merge the departments of human services and mental health.

Among those attending the Cabinet Room ceremony were several lawmakers and department officials.

In February, Baldacci chose veteran state finance expert John Nicholas to head the new super agency, which will combine Maine’s Department of Human Services and the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services.

Nicholas was Maine’s state budget officer from 1992 to 2002 and returned to state government last fall after a year as chief financial officer for Catholic Charities Maine.

Baldacci also signed more than a dozen other bills on Thursday, nearly a week after the Legislature adjourned.