Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Facilitate the Development of Unoccupied Mills

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this legislation establishes the Task Force To Facilitate the Development of Unoccupied Mills to help municipalities with unoccupied mills to develop the sites and to help improve their local economies; and

Whereas,  the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that the study may be completed and a report prepared in time for submission to the next legislative session; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the Task Force To Facilitate the Development of Unoccupied Mills, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," is established; and be it further

Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: That the task force consists of 13 members appointed as follows:

1. Four members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;

2. Three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

3. One representative from the Maine Municipal Association, appointed by the President of the Senate;

4. One representative from the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

5. One nonlegislative representative from a municipality with an unoccupied mill, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

6. One representative each from the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Maine State Housing Authority and the Finance Authority of Maine, appointed by the Governor; and be it further

Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the task force; and be it further

Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of task force. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members and no later than April 15, 2012, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the task force. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all of the appointments have been made, the chair may request, and the Legislative Council may grant, authority for the task force to meet and conduct its business; and be it further

Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall:

1. Review the efforts previously undertaken to develop unoccupied mills or mill sites in the State;

2. Determine the obstacles that hinder or prevent development of the mills or mill sites;

3. Review and determine the measures taken in other states that have successfully developed similar facilities;

4. Determine the measures needed to remove obstacles to or to facilitate the development of the mills or mill sites, including making any changes required in law or local ordinances; and

5. Estimate the costs involved in undertaking the various measures involved in developing the mills or mill sites; and be it further

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Maine State Housing Authority and the Finance Authority of Maine shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force; and be it further

Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 5, 2012, the task force shall provide its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor, commerce and economic development matters, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and the Governor.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This resolve establishes the Task Force To Facilitate the Development of Unoccupied Mills. The purpose of the task force is to help municipalities with unoccupied mills to develop the sites and to help improve their local economies.