Resolve, To Determine Methods of Securing a Trained Laboratory Workforce for Maine

Sec. 1. Working group; shortage crisis of trained laboratory technicians. Resolved: That the Department of Economic and Community Development, Maine Office of Innovation shall administer a working group to study the lack of qualified laboratory technicians in the State, which will result in a decrease of economic development, a decrease in access to health care and an increased risk of medical errors; and be it further

Sec. 2. Working group members. Resolved: That the Maine Office of Innovation’s working group must at least include a member of the Maine Clinical Laboratory Management Association, the Maine Hospital Association, the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System, a private college or university in Maine, a Maine nonprofit laboratory and a Maine for-profit biotechnology company. The working group shall study the shortage of trained laboratory technicians and explore how the State's educational systems can address the shortage of qualified laboratory technicians; and be it further

Sec. 3. Report to Legislature. Resolved: That the Maine Office of Innovation’s working group shall analyze how the shortage of trained laboratory technicians can be resolved and report its findings to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development matters by January 15, 2009.

summary

This resolve directs the Department of Economic and Community Development, Maine Office of Innovation to administer a working group to study the current shortage of trained qualified laboratory technicians and to report back to the Legislature its findings as to how the educational systems of the State can help to relieve the shortage.