An Act To Expand Opportunities for Economic Development in Maine
Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §5250-I, sub-§18, as amended by PL 2005, c. 351, §4 and affected by §26, is further amended to read:
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §5250-I, sub-§18-A is enacted to read:
Sec. 3. 30-A MRSA §5250-I, sub-§23, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 21, §3, is repealed.
Sec. 4. 30-A MRSA §5250-I, sub-§24, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 21, §4, is repealed.
Sec. 5. 30-A MRSA §5250-J, sub-§4-A, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 21, §5, is amended to read:
For the purposes of this section and calculation of Pine Tree Development Zone benefits in section 5250-I, subsection 14, the base level of employment may be adjusted to mean 25% of the average number of employees of that business over the 3 months immediately preceding the catastrophic occurrence. A qualified business must apply for an adjustment of the base level of employment or for an extension of certification in accordance with this subsection within 16 24 months of the catastrophic occurrence. Applications pursuant to this subsection must be received by August 1, 2011. To apply for an extension of certification, the qualified business shall submit a written request for an extension to the department, which may, after consultation with the Governor, grant the extension of certification.
Sec. 6. 36 MRSA §6753, sub-§12, as amended by PL 2009, c. 434, §82, is further amended to read:
Summary
This bill makes the following changes to the laws governing Pine Tree Development Zones.
1. Current law authorizes Pine Tree Development Zone businesses whose primary purpose is to support the State's working waterfront to apply for adjustments based on a catastrophic occurrence. This bill eliminates the restriction that the business be within the working waterfront industry, and allows such affected businesses to apply for an extension of their certification period of up to 2 years. This bill authorizes the Department of Economic and Community Development, after consultation with the Governor, to grant extensions of certification.
2. Current law defines a qualified Pine Tree Development Zone employee as an employee for whom group health insurance is provided. This bill eliminates the requirement that group health insurance be provided.
3. Current law defines a qualified Pine Tree Development Zone employee as one whose income is greater than the most recent annual per capita personal income in the county in which the qualified employee is employed. Under this bill, the income of a qualified employee is greater than the average weekly wage for the most recent calendar year as derived from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. The calculation of the average weekly wage must include data from the counties of Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo and Washington.
4. It amends the laws governing employment tax increment financing reimbursement to reflect the revised definition of "qualified employee" under the Pine Tree Development Zone laws.