Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §1664, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:
3-A. Funding for research and development. Beginning in fiscal year 2008-09, the Governor, when submitting the budget document to the Legislature pursuant to section 1666, shall submit a funding level recommendation for research and development. The recommendation must be transmitted to the Legislature within the time schedules set forth in section 1666. It is the intent of the Legislature that beginning in fiscal year 2009-10 the biennial budget submitted by the Governor must set forth appropriations for research and development that are the equivalent of not less than 1% of total actual General Fund revenue of the previous fiscal year. For each successive year for the next 10 fiscal years, the funding level must increase by at least 2/10 of 1% until funding for research and development is the equivalent to not less than 3% of total actual General Fund revenue of the previous fiscal year. If the Governor's budget sets forth recommendations for research and development that differ from the levels described in this subsection, the Governor shall explain the funding difference in the biennial budget document.
