Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §55-A is enacted to read:

§55-A.__Unfair competition

1.__Prohibition.__A state agency that provides goods or services to the public, may not unfairly compete with private enterprise in the State.

2.__Prior approval required.__Before a state agency may provide goods or services to the public, that agency must refer the matter for review and approval to the Advisory Committee on Fair Competition with Private Enterprise, established in section 12004-I, subsection 2-E.__If the Advisory Committee on Fair Competition with Private Enterprise finds that the proposed activity will result in unfair competition, the state agency may not provide those goods or services.

3.__Effective date.__This section takes effect January 15, 2004.

SUMMARY

This bill requires that, before a state agency may provide goods or services to the public, the matter must be reviewed and approved by the Advisory Committee on Fair Competition with Private Enterprise.