Sec. OOO-1. Evaluation of economic development programs. In accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, chapter 37, the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, referred to in this section as "the office," may conduct an evaluation of state programs that provide public subsidies or incentives for economic development, as follows.
1. Programs. The office may evaluate any one or more of the following programs:
A. The Economic Recovery Program Fund created in Title 10, section 1023-I;
B. The Regional Economic Development Revolving Loan Program created in Title 10, section 1026-M;
C. Maine Quality Centers under Title 20-A, chapter 431-A;
D. The Governor's Training Initiative Program under Title 26, chapter 25, subchapter 4;
E. Municipal tax increment financing under Title 30-A, chapter 206, subchapter 1;
F. Pine Tree Development Zones designated under Title 30-A, chapter 206, subchapter 4;
G. The jobs and investment tax credit under Title 36, section 5215;
H. The credit for seed capital investment under Title 36, section 5216-B;
I. The research expense tax credit under Title 36, section 5219-K;
J. Reimbursement for taxes paid on certain business property under Title 36, chapter 915;
K. Employment tax increment financing under Title 36, chapter 917;
L. The shipbuilding facility credit under Title 36, chapter 919;
M. Assistance provided by the Office of Small Business Development Centers created pursuant to the federal Small Business Development Center Act of 1980, Public Law 96-302, Title II, 15 United States Code, Section 636 and Section 648; and
N. Other similar economic development programs as the office considers appropriate.
2. Evaluation. As part of its evaluation, the office shall determine:
A. Whether the program has a clearly stated public purpose and, if so, whether the program meets that purpose;
B. Whether the program has clearly stated goals and benchmarks by which to measure its success. If the program does have such goals and benchmarks, the office shall determine whether the program achieves them. If the program does not have such goals and benchmarks, the office shall determine what goals and benchmarks are appropriate and whether the program achieves them;
C. Whether there is overlap or redundancy among the programs;
D. What additional data should be collected regarding the various programs and to whom the data should be reported; and
E. Whether additional methods of accountability are needed in the program.
As part of its evaluation, the office shall review reports prepared pursuant to Title 5, section 13070-J and any independently audited reports relating to the programs.
3. Report. The office shall submit its report to the legislative Government Oversight Committee.
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