Sec. M-1. 5 MRSA §934-A, as amended by PL 1991, c. 622, Pt. F, §§1 to 4, is further amended to read:
§934-A. Department of Economic and Community Development
1. Major policy-influencing positions. The following positions are major policy-influencing positions with the Department of Economic and Community Development. These positions shall be are appointed by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and shall serve at his the commissioner's pleasure. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, these positions and their successor positions shall be are subject to this chapter:
B. Deputy Commissioner for Business Development;
G. Director, Administration Innovation;
H. Director, Community Development; and
I. Director, Tourism.; and
J. Director, Business Development.
Sec. M-2. 5 MRSA §13055, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2003, c. 198, §1, is further amended to read:
1. Organizations. The department contains the following organizations:
A. The Office of Business Development;
B. The Office of Tourism; and
F. The Office of Community Development.; and
G. The Office of Innovation.
Sec. M-3. 5 MRSA §13058, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, §§17 and 19 and amended by PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §34, is repealed.
Sec. M-4. 5 MRSA §13058, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, §§17 and 19, is repealed.
Sec. M-5. 5 MRSA c. 383, sub-c. 1-A, as amended, is repealed.
Sec. M-6. 5 MRSA §13062, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, §§17 and 19, is amended to read:
The Deputy Commissioner for Business Development shall be the Director of the Office of Business Development and shall administer the office in accordance with the policies of the commissioner and the provisions of this chapter, emphasizing a program of targeted business development designed to attract particular types of businesses which that have potential for Maine and businesses which that are deemed considered to be compatible with Maine's environment and interests. The office shall actively seek and encourage firms to expand or locate in Maine. The office shall be is responsible for the implementation of programs designed to promote Maine products in national and international markets and to develop markets for industry located in Maine.
Sec. M-7. 5 MRSA §13071-A, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 181, §1, is repealed.
Sec. M-8. 5 MRSA c. 383, sub-c. 5-B is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 5-B
OFFICE OF INNOVATION
Article 1
OFFICE OF INNOVATION
1. Office established. The commissioner shall establish the Office of Innovation, referred to in this subchapter as "the office." The office shall encourage and coordinate the State's research and development activities to foster collaboration among the State's higher education and nonprofit research institutions and the business community.
2. Office functions. The office shall promote, evaluate and support research and development relevant to the State including:
A. Technology transfer activities to increase the competitiveness of businesses and public institutions of higher education in the State;
B. Effective and efficient application of technologies in the public and private sectors;
C. The development of new commercial products and the fabrication of such products in the State through the Maine Technology Institute under section 15302 and the applied technology development centers under section 15321; and
D. Research opportunities that create sustained, interinstitutional, multidisciplinary efforts.
The office shall coordinate cooperative efforts among government agencies, the private sector and universities and colleges for the purposes outlined in this subchapter.
§13106. Science and technology plan
The office shall develop and submit the following to the Governor and the Legislature by the first day of the first legislative session of each biennium:
1. Action plan. An action plan for the application of science and technology to improve the State's position in the global economy. The action plan must be based on the State's overall economic development strategy as determined by the commissioner. The action plan must identify specific steps that public and private institutions must implement to improve the State's science and technology infrastructure. The action plan must also identify action steps that could be implemented immediately without new state appropriations and resources and action steps that will require new state appropriations or major reallocation of state appropriations and resources.
The action plan must include numerical objectives, costs and an evaluation protocol. The action plan must also include a provision for assigning and ensuring accountability for those who receive state research and development funds through the office. In the preparation of this action plan, the office shall seek the advice of state agencies, the Maine Economic Growth Council established in Title 10, section 929-A, the University of Maine System and the business, education and research communities; and
2. Report card. A report card that:
A. Compares the State's science and technology infrastructure standing to that of other states, based on the results of all independent organizations or reports that make such comparisons and on any other appropriate comparisons as determined by the office and those agencies with which the office is directed by this section to consult;
B. Assesses the performance of the State and those who receive state funds in meeting the goals and objectives and taking the action steps outlined in the action plan; and
C. Makes recommendations for improving the results shown on the report card.
§13107. Comprehensive research and development evaluation
The office shall develop and submit to the Governor and the Legislature by July 1, 2006 and on July 1st every 5 years thereafter an evaluation of state investments in research and development. The evaluation must:
1. Outcome measures. Establish outcome measures considered appropriate by public and private practitioners inside and outside of the State in the fields of research and development and economic development. Practitioners in this State must include, but are not limited to, a representative from the University of Maine System, a representative of the targeted technology sectors, a representative of the Executive Department, State Planning Office and representatives of other state agencies having economic development responsibility;
2. Independent reviewers. Utilize independent reviewers to assess the competitiveness of technology sectors in this State and the impact of research and development activities in this State on economic development in this State; and
3. Recommendations. Include recommendations to the Legislature on existing and proposed state-supported research and development programs and activities to affect technology-based economic development in this State.
§13108. Reporting requirements of recipients of research and development funding
To assist the office in preparing a comprehensive research and development evaluation, a recipient of state funding including general obligation bond proceeds for research and development shall, in addition to any other reporting requirements required by law:
1. Data. Collect, maintain and provide data relating to each investment's performance, outputs and outcomes;
2. Report card indicators. Identify the indicators in the report card developed by the office pursuant to section 13106 that will be affected as a result of the proposed research and development activity; and
3. Action plan goals. Identify the goals in the action plan developed by the office pursuant to section 13106 that will be advanced by the recipient's research and development activity.
Article 2
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS
§13109. Maine Research and Development Evaluation Fund
1. Fund established. The Maine Research and Development Evaluation Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established as a nonlapsing Other Special Revenue Funds account administered by the office for the purposes of funding the comprehensive research and development evaluation required pursuant to section 13108.
2. Definition. For the purposes of this section, "research and development" means activities that directly or through capital investment support basic and applied scientific research and related commercial development funded by state appropriations and bond proceeds.
3. Fund sources. The fund receives money deposited by the Treasurer of State pursuant to this section and any other gift, grant or other source of revenue deposited for that use.
4. Transfers to fund. Notwithstanding section 1585 or any other provision of law, the State Budget Officer may transfer to the fund an amount not to exceed 0.8% of General Fund appropriations received by and general obligation bonds issued to an agency or entity for research and development efforts. Private entities that receive funds from general obligation bonds for research and development efforts shall pay to the Treasurer of State in the fiscal year in which the general obligation bond was issued an amount not to exceed 0.8% of the proceeds from the bond issue in any fiscal year, which payment must be made from available resources other than bond proceeds. Only those programs that receive $500,000 or more in research and development appropriations in any fiscal year, or those entities that receive funds from a general obligation bond issue of $500,000 or more for research and development efforts in any fiscal year, as identified and certified by the State Budget Officer and the Office of Fiscal and Program Review, may be assessed upon concurrence of the affected agencies, institutions and departments. The transfer must be implemented by financial order contingent upon the recommendation of the State Budget Officer and approval of the Governor and upon review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs. The financial order must include a plan outlining how these funds will be expended. The financial order takes effect upon approval by the Governor. Total payments made pursuant to this section may not exceed $120,000 in any fiscal year.
5. Repeal; lapse of funds. This section is repealed June 30, 2006. Unexpended funds in the fund at that time lapse to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund.
§13110. Maine Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research established
The office, the University of Maine System and the EPSCoR steering committee are jointly responsible for the administration of the Maine Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, referred to in this chapter as "the Maine EPSCoR Program," which is established in this section as a partnership effort between the State Government and the Federal Government to strengthen the State's science and engineering infrastructure.
1. Linkage with state policies. The policies, programs and activities of the Maine EPSCoR Program must consider the State's economic, education and science and technology strategies and policies.
2. Policy recommendation. Through the office, the University of Maine System and the EPSCoR steering committee, the Maine EPSCoR Program may recommend to the Governor and the Legislature policies and programs essential to the strengthening of the State's science and engineering infrastructure.
§13110-A. Maine EPSCoR Capacity Fund
The Maine EPSCoR Capacity Fund is established within the office to provide the matching funds that are required by several federal agencies in their EPSCoR activities. The fund must be used to match EPSCoR awards, and is a nonlapsing Other Special Revenue Funds account.
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Fund" means the Maine EPSCoR Capacity Fund account within the Other Special Revenue Funds account.
B. "Match" means the cash commitment required from the State as defined by a federal funding agency. Match requirements vary among federal agencies.
C. "Research capacity committee" means the EPSCoR steering committee referred to in section 13110.
2. Organization. The commissioner, at the commissioner's discretion, may delegate the administration of the fund to the director of the office. The research capacity committee shall advise the commissioner or the director of the office on the use of the funds.
3. Guidelines. The commissioner or the director of the office, with the advice of the research capacity committee, shall establish guidelines for cash and in-kind match requirements based on the activities to be supported with the fund. Match levels must reflect the requirements identified by federal funding agencies.
Sec. M-9. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
DEPARTMENT OF
Administration - Economic and Community
Development 0069
Initiative: Provides for the upgrade of a Business Development Specialist position to a Deputy Commissioner position and its transfer from Business Development to Administration - Economic and Community Development. This is part of a departmental reorganization.
General Fund 2003-04 2004-05
Positions - Legislative Count (0.000) (1.000)
Personal Services $0 $95,950
__________ __________
General Fund Total $0 $95,950
Administration - Economic and Community
Development 0069
Initiative: Provides for the upgrade of a Development Director position to a Science Advisor position and its transfer from Administration - Economic and Community Development to the Office of Innovation. This is part of a departmental reorganization.
General Fund 2003-04 2004-05
Positions - Legislative Count (0.000) (-1.000)
Personal Services $0 ($87,761)
__________ __________
General Fund Total $0 ($87,761)
Administration - Economic and Community
Development 0069
Initiative: Provides for the transfer of the Maine Technology Institute Director and the Applied Technology Development Center System Director positions and the related All Other appropriations from Administration - Economic and Community Development to the Office of Innovation as part of a departmental reorganization.
General Fund 2003-04 2004-05
Positions - Legislative Count (0.000) (-2.000)
Personal Services $0 ($164,064)
All Other 0 (5,677,311)
__________ __________
General Fund Total $0 ($5,841,375)
Office of Innovation 0995
Initiative: Provides for the upgrade of a Development Director position to a Science Advisor position and its transfer from Administration - Economic and Community Development to the Office of Innovation. This is part of a departmental reorganization.
General Fund 2003-04 2004-05
Positions - Legislative Count (0.000) (1.000)
Personal Services $0 $102,728
__________ __________
General Fund Total $0 $102,728
Office of Innovation 0995
Initiative: Provides for the transfer of the Maine Technology Institute Director and the Applied Technology Development Center System Director positions and the related All Other appropriations from Administration - Economic and Community Development to the Office of Innovation as part of a departmental reorganization.
General Fund 2003-04 2004-05
Positions - Legislative Count (0.000) (2.000)
Personal Services $0 $164,064
All Other 0 5,677,311
__________ __________
General Fund Total $0 $5,841,375
Office of Innovation 0995
Initiative: Provides for the appropriation of All Other funds to the Office of Innovation for the purpose of providing operating funds for the newly created Science Advisor position.
General Fund 2003-04 2004-05
All Other $0 $24,209
__________ __________
General Fund Total $0 $24,209
Business Development 0585
Initiative: Provides for a reorganization in the Office of Business Development, part of a departmentwide reorganization, including the establishment of one Policy Development Specialist position.
General Fund 2003-04 2004-05
Positions - Legislative Count (0.000) (1.000)
Personal Services $0 $66,352
All Other 0 (66,352)
__________ __________
General Fund Total $0 $0
Business Development 0585
Initiative: Provides for the upgrade of a Business Development Specialist position to a Deputy Commissioner position and its transfer from Business Development to Administration - Economic and Community Development. This is part of a departmental reorganization.
General Fund 2003-04 2004-05
Positions - Legislative Count (0.000) (-1.000)
Personal Services $0 ($68,101)
__________ __________
General Fund Total $0 ($68,101)
Business Development 0585
Initiative: Provides for the deappropriation of funds and reduction of one headcount through the elimination of one Development Project Officer position. Funds are being used to upgrade one Business Development Specialist position to a Deputy Commissioner position and one Development Director position to a Science Advisor position.
General Fund 2003-04 2004-05
Positions - Legislative Count (0.000) (-1.000)
Personal Services $0 ($67,025)
__________ __________
General Fund Total $0 ($67,025)
Business Development 0585
Initiative: Provides for combining the headcount of 2 part-time Development Project Officer positions in Business Development and in Community Development - State Match into one headcount in Business Development.
General Fund 2003-04 2004-05
Positions - Legislative Count (0.000) (0.500)
Personal Services $0 ($249)
__________ __________
General Fund Total $0 ($249)
Energy Conservation Division 0736
Initiative: Deallocates funds from the Energy Conservation Small Business Revolving Loan Program, which has been transferred to the Public Utilities Commission.
Other Special Revenue Funds 2003-04 2004-05
All Other $0 ($160,000)
__________ __________
Other Special Revenue
Funds Total $0 ($160,000)
Job Retention Program 0855
Initiative: Deallocates funds from the Job Retention Program because of a legislative transfer of the program funds to the Mature and Dominant Industries Program within the Department of Economic and Community Development.
Other Special Revenue Funds 2003-04 2004-05
All Other $0 ($132,100)
__________ __________
Other Special Revenue
Funds Total $0 ($132,100)
Community Development Block Grant Program 0587
Initiative: Provides for combining the headcount of 2 part-time Development Project Officer positions in Business Development and in Community Development - State Match into one headcount in Business Development.
General Fund 2003-04 2004-05
Positions - Legislative Count (0.000) (-0.500)
Personal Services $0 ($254)
__________ __________
General Fund Total $0 ($254)
Economic Opportunity Program 0710
Initiative: Deallocates funds from the Economic Opportunity Program due to a reduction in anticipated revenue.
Other Special Revenue Funds 2003-04 2004-05
All Other $0 ($126,000)
__________ __________
Other Special Revenue
Funds Total $0 ($126,000)
Office of Tourism 0577
Initiative: Provides an increase to the allocation for Personal Services for one Public Service Manager III position electing membership in the Maine State Retirement System.
Other Special Revenue Funds 2003-04 2004-05
Personal Services $0 $15,812
__________ __________
Other Special Revenue
Funds Total $0 $15,812
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2003-04 2004-05
GENERAL FUND $0 ($503)
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE
FUNDS 0 (402,288)
__________ __________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL -
ALL FUNDS $0 ($402,791)
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