An Act To Strengthen the Maine Small Business and Entrepreneurship Commission

Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §13033,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 425, §3, is further amended to read:

§ 13033. Membership

The commission consists of 10 9 members: the Chief Executive Officer of the Finance Authority of Maine or the chief executive officer's designee; the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or the commissioner's designee; the House and Senate chairs of the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development matters, who are ex officio, nonvoting members; the chair of the Small Business Development Centers Advisory Council; the District Director of the United States Small Business Administration's Maine District Office; and a designee from the administrative unit and 3 public members with expertise and knowledge in small business and entrepreneurship, appointed by the commissioner.

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §13033-A  is enacted to read:

§ 13033-A.  Terms of membership

Beginning January 1, 2009, the 3 public members appointed to the commission pursuant to section 13033 are appointed for staggered terms of 3 years. The commissioner shall appoint public members to vacancies on the commission as they occur or upon expiration of terms. Any vacancy must be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in which the vacancy occurs.

Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §13034, sub-§3,  as amended by PL 2001, c. 142, §3, is further amended to read:

Sec. 4. Staggered terms. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall appoint the 3 public members of the Maine Small Business and Entrepreneurship Commission by January 1, 2009 so that one member serves a one-year term, one member serves a 2-year term and one member serves a 3-year term. Subsequent terms of the public members are for 3 years, pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 13033-A.