AUGUSTA (AP) – Legislative leaders are taking an initial step toward going paperless, a move that could save taxpayers more than $500,000 over a two-year session while avoiding the need to print large volumes of documents that wind up in State House waste bins.

The Legislative Council voted 6-3 Thursday to send out a request for proposals from vendors who could create software needed to create a new paperless system. Democratic leaders supported the move while Republicans opposed it.

Under the present system, calendars listing bills and other items up for consideration are distributed each day in the House and Senate and made available to the public. In addition, each bill, resolve, order and other legislative proposal is printed and distributed.

The heavy volume of documents requires lawmakers to shuffle through paperwork to keep up with the action, and that’s not an efficient way to do business, said House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven.

While leaders are asking for bids to develop software for the paperless system, they did not address what kind of display mechanism would be used. Some of the systems could include individual desk monitors or laptop computers, council Executive Director David Boulter said Friday.

House Speaker Glenn Cummings, D-Portland, said the software will have a cost, but that the new system will save money on paper, printing costs and reduced staffing.

Cummings had no figures on how much would be saved by going paperless, but House Clerk Millie McFarland said the Legislature spent more than $500,000 in fiscal 2005 and 2006 to print bills, amendments and calendars. Documents distributed in the House and Senate cost about $100,000, and the remainder is for the public and legislative offices.

If the Legislature follows through with electronic display of documents, it’s envisioned that for some time some paper documents would continue to be printed to accommodate those who are accustomed to using paper, said Boulter. “But the goal is to eliminate that,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Carol Weston, R-Montville, opposed Thursday’s move to get bids for paperless software, saying the Legislature has a poor track record in introducing new technology.

“I don’t have any real expectations that this will be smooth sailing,” Weston said.

The assistant GOP leader in the Senate, Richard Rosen of Bucksport, said he already uses his laptop to read bills and amendments via Internet connection. But he voted against the motion seeking bids because it did not include a statement on what the goals of the new system would be.

AP-ES-08-24-07 1506EDT