An Act To Coordinate Education, Job Training and Employers in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1883
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: COLWELL, STANLEY, AUSTIN, DAVIS, FISCHER, SULLIVAN, THOMAS, DAGGETT, HALL
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-G, 20-A MRSA §12703-A, 30-A MRSA §4722

Legislative Document 
No. 1883 
H.P.1399 
House of Representatives, February 26,2004 
An Act To Coordinate Education, Job Training and Employers in 
Maine 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Speaker COLWELL of Gardiner. 
Cosponsored by Senator STANLEY of Penobscot and 
;r;~ 
1?7.1l?dC~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: AUSTIN of Gray, DAVIS of Falmouth, FISCHER of Presque Isle, 
SULLIVAN of Biddeford, THOMAS of Orono, Senators: President DAGGETT of Kennebec, 
HALL of Lincoln, SA V AGE of Knox. 
Primed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-G, sub-§7-F is enacted to read: 
7-F. 
Economic 
Development 
Future 
for Youth 
in Maine 
State Work 
Action 
Tactics Team, 
"S.W.A.T." 
Legislative 
MRSA 
Per Diem for §13161 
Legislators 
Only 
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA c. 383, sub-c.l-B is enacted to read: 
SUBCBAP'TER I-B 
MARKETING AND PROMOTION 
§13060-G. 
Comprehensive marketing strategy 
The department shall develop and administer a comprehensive 
marketing strategy to promote Maine to persons 15 to 35 years of 
age as an attractive location to pursue education, employment and 
business development opportunities. 
The department shall consult 
with the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, the 
University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System, 
the Finance Authority of Maine, the Maine State Housing Authority 
and other public and private stakeholders in the development of 
the marketing strategy. 
The strategy must highlight the State's 
public 
and private institutions of higher education and the 
resources available for starting a business in the State. 
The 
strategy 
must 
be 
designed 
to 
target 
current, 
former 
and 
prospective residents 15 to 35 years of age. 
Sec. 3. 5 MRSA c. 389 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 389 
FlJ".l'ORE FOR YOUTH IN MAINE STATE WORK ACTION' TACTICS TEAM 
§13161. 
Future for Youth in Maine State Work Action Tactics Team 
established 
The Future for Youth in Maine State Work Action Tactics 
Team, 
referred to in this chapter as "the S.W.A.T. 
team," is 
established 
as 
a 
policy-making 
body 
to 
bring 
together 
representatives of government, education, business and labor in a 
focused, coordinated effort to develop, realign, streamline and 
oversee the State's economic 
development policy and specific 
Page l-LR2348(1} 
efforts to retain and attract youth. 
For the purposes of this 
chapter. "youth" means persons 15 to 35 years of a!#e. 
1. 
Policy-making 1I!fflIlhgrs; appointment. 
The S. W. A. T. 
team 
consists of the fo11owin!# 15 policy-makin!# members, includin!# at 
least 2 members under 35 years of a!#e, appointed as follows: 
A. 
Five members appointed by the President of the Senate as 
follows: 
(1) 
Three members representin!# business: one business 
representative must be an individual under 35 years of 
a!#e who has started a business: 
(2) 
One 
member 
representin!# 
labor 
and 
workforce 
development: and 
(3) 
One member who is a colle!#e student under 35 years 
of 
a!#e, 
alternatin!# 
annually 
between 
a 
student 
representative 
on 
the 
Board 
of 
Trustees 
of 
the 
University of Maine System and a student representative 
on the Board of Trustees of the Maine Community Colle!#e 
System: 
B. 
Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House as 
follows: 
(1) 
Four members representing business: and 
(2) 
One 
member 
representing 
labor 
and 
workforce 
development: 
C. 
The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the 
chancellor's designee: 
D. 
The President of the Maine Community College System or 
the president's desi~nee: 
E. 
One representative of the Department of Economic and 
Community 
Development, 
appointed 
by 
the 
Commissioner 
of 
Economic and Community Development; 
F. 
One 
representative 
of 
the 
Department 
of 
Education, 
appointed by the Commissioner of Education; and 
G. 
One representative of the Department of Labor. appointed 
by the Commissioner of Labor. 
2. 
Adviso~ members; 
appointment. 
The 
S.W.A.T. 
team 
includes 8 nonvoting advisory members, appointed as follows: 
A. 
Two Senators, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
B. 
Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House; 
C. 
Two 
representati ves 
of 
kindergarten 
to 
grade 
education, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate 
and the Speaker of the House: one kindergarten to grade 12 
representative must be a high school student, alternately 
selected annually by the Dirigo Boys State and Dirigo Girls 
State programs or successor programs: 
D. 
One representative of the Finance Authority of Maine, 
appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Finance 
Authority of Maine; and 
E. 
One representative of the Maine State Housing Authority, 
appointed 
by 
the 
Director 
of 
the 
Maine 
State 
Housing 
Authority. 
3. 
Terms. 
Members appointed to the S.W.A.T. 
team serve 
3-year terms except for the high school student and college 
student, 
who 
each serve 
a 
one-year term. 
The 
terms of the 
ini tially appointed members, aside from the student appointees, 
must be staggered as follows: Four of the initial policy-making 
appointees serve for one year, 5 serve for 2 years and 5 serve 
for 3 years; and 2 of the initial advisory members serve for one 
year, 2 serve for 2 years and 3 serve for 3 years. 
4. 
Compensation. 
Members of the S.W.A.T. 
team are not 
entitled to compensation for their services except for 
those 
members of the Legislature appointed to the S.W.A.T. 
team, who 
receive the legislative per diem. 
§13162. 
Duties 
1. 
Policy development and implementation. 
The 
S.W.A.T. 
team shall: 
A. 
Develop and oversee the implementation of comprehensive, 
coordinated and focused economic development policies that 
optimize the use of the State's resources and investments to 
promote economic growth and development; 
B. 
Develop 
and oversee the 
implementation of education 
policies that focus 
on meeting the 
needs 
of the 
labor 
market, 
the 
business 
community 
and 
economic 
development 
priorities; and 
C. 
Develop 
and 
implement 
short-term 
and 
long-term 
strategies 
to 
retain 
and 
attract 
youth 
by 
improving 
coordination and reducing fragmentation within and between 
labor, 
education, 
business 
and 
economic 
development 
sectors. 
Specific responsibilities in this area include: 
(1) 
Developing and issuing a comprehensive action plan 
for 
economic 
development 
and 
education 
policy 
initiatives 
specifically 
designed 
to 
expand 
opportunities for youth; 
(2) 
Creating 
a 
publicly 
accessible 
site 
on 
the 
Internet 
that 
is 
a 
comprehensive 
clearinghouse 
of 
information 
regarding 
higher 
education, 
career 
opportunities 
and 
jobs 
available 
in 
the 
State, 
including the high-growth and high-paying jobs in the 
State. 
The 
S.W.A.T. 
team 
shall 
ensure 
that 
this 
resource is well publicized and easily accessible to 
all residents of and all students attending high school 
or college in the State. 
The 
S.W.A.T. 
team shall 
provide statewide access to this resource no later than 
January 15, 
2005 and shall update the information at 
least every 2 months thereafter; 
(3) 
Developing 
and 
implementing 
an 
initiative 
to 
provide all high school students in the State with 
information 
about 
higher 
education 
and 
career 
opportunities in the State. The initiative must include 
information regarding public and private postsecondary 
education programs in the State, career paths, reguired 
education 
and 
training 
and 
lists 
of 
high-growth 
occupations, 
high-paying 
jobs 
and 
occupational 
shortages. 
The 
S.W.A.T. 
team 
shall 
implement 
the 
initiative statewide no later than January 15, 2005; and 
(4) 
Developing and implementing a 
program to bring 
volunteers from business and government to high schools 
throughout 
the 
State 
to 
provide 
students 
with 
information 
about 
career 
opportunities 
and 
the 
education reguired for different careers. 
The S.W.A.T. 
team shall implement this program statewide no later 
than January 15, 2005. 
2. 
Higher education planning. 
The S.W.A.T. team shall: 
A. 
Work with the University of Maine System and the Maine 
Community 
College 
System 
to 
develop 
a 
plan 
for 
higher 
education that will meet the needs of the State's economy 
and 
business 
community 
for 
research 
and 
development, 
commercialization 
of 
products 
and 
services, 
emerging 
technologies and workforce training; and 
B. 
Review the need for and develop proposals for funding to 
develop nursing programs wi thin the Maine Community College 
System and specifically consider the needs of York County 
Community College to establish such a program. 
The S.W.A.T. 
team shall report on its review and proposals regarding 
nursing programs pursuant to subsection 4. 
3. 
Oversight. 
The S.W.A.T. team shall monitor and oversee 
the development and implementation of initiatives undertaken by 
state agencies 
and organizations to create opportunities for 
youth through economic development, 
education, 
employment 
and 
other strategies and shall report on these initiatives as part of 
the reporting requirements under subsection 4. 
4. 
Report. 
The S.W.A.T. team shall report all findings, 
accomplishments, 
future 
plans 
and 
policy 
recommendations, 
including 
its 
comprehensive 
action 
plan 
for 
economic 
and 
education policy initiatives, to the presiding officers of the 
Legislature, who shall refer the reports to the appropriate joint 
standing committees of the Legislature for review. 
The S.W.A.T. 
team shall make its report to the presiding officers no later 
than January 15, 20Q5 and annually thereafter. 
Sec. 4. 20·A MRSA l0902·C is enacted to read: 
§10902-C. 
Coordination of higher education planning and business 
sector needs 
1. 
Collaborative process. 
The trustees, in collaboration 
with the Board of Trustees of the Maine Community College System, 
shall develop and implement a formal process to work with public 
and private sector representatives of business, 
industry and 
economic development to coordinate higher education planning and 
resource allocation decisions with the 
needs 
of 
the State's 
economy and business sector. 
2. 
Comprehensive plan. 
The trustees, in conjunction with 
the Trustees of the Maine Community College System, shall develop 
a comprehensive plan that coordinates higher education planning 
with the needs of the business sector. The trustees shall consult 
with the Future for Youth in Maine State Work Action Tactics Team 
established in Title 5, 
section 13161 in development of the 
plan. 
At a 
minimum, 
the plan must address the needs of the 
business sector with respect to research and development, 
the 
commercialization 
of 
new 
products 
and 
services, 
business 
development and workforce training. 
3. 
Report. 
The trustees, in conjunction with the Trustees 
of 
the 
Maine 
Community 
College 
System, 
shall report 
on 
the 
collaborative process and comprehensive plan outlined in this 
section to the Future for Youth in Maine State Work 
Action 
Tactics Team established in Title 5, section 13161, the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
education matters 
and 
the 
joint 
standing 
committee 
of 
the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over business matters no later 
than January 15, 2005 and annually thereafter. 
Sec. 5. 20-A MRSA §12703-A is enacted to read: 
§12103-A. 
Coordinat~on of higher education planning and business 
sector needs 
1. 
Collaborative 
process. 
The 
board 
of 
trustees, 
in 
collaboration with 
the 
Trustees 
of 
the 
University of 
Maine 
System, shall develop and implement a formal process to work with 
public and private sector representatives of business, industry 
and economic development to coordinate higher education planning 
and resource allocation decisions with the needs of the State' s 
economy and business sector. 
2. 
Comprehensive 
plan. 
The 
board 
of 
trustees, 
in 
collaboration with 
the 
Trustees 
of 
the 
University of 
Maine 
System, 
shall 
develop 
a 
comprehensive 
plan that 
coordinates 
higher education planning with the needs of the business sector. 
The board of trustees shall consult with the Future for Youth in 
Maine State Work Action Tactics Team established in Title 5, 
section 13161 in development of the plan. 
At a minimum, the plan 
must address the needs of the business sector with respect to 
research and development, the commercialization of new products 
and services, business development and workforce training. 
3. 
Report. 
The board of trustees, in conjunction with the 
Trustees of the University of Maine System, shall report on the 
collaborative process and comprehensive plan outlined in this 
section to the Future for Youth in Maine State Work 
Action 
Tactics Team established in Title 5, section 13161, the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
education 
matters 
and 
the 
joint 
standing 
committee 
of 
the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over business matters no later 
than January 15, 2005 and annually thereafter. 
Sec. 6. 30-A MRSA §4722, sub-§l. 1[W. as amended by PL 1991, c. 
780, Pt. TT, §1, is further amended to read: 
W. 
Pursuant to the purpose of the Act to provide housing 
assistance to persons of low income and in accordance with 
rules adopted under the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, 
9, 
operate programs to provide energy conservation and fuel 
assistance on behalf of persons of low income in connection 
with single-family or multi-unit residential housing 
and 
accept, obtain, distribute and administer federal and state 
funds, including block grants, for energy conservation and 
fuel assistance for the purpose of operating those programs. 
(1) 
The Maine State Housing Authority shall report to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs 
on 
June 
30, 
1992 
and 
annually 
thereafter 
on 
the 
low-income energy assistance program. 
The report must 
include, but is not limited to, program revenue and 
expenditures, number of individuals served and types of 
services provided: aBe 
Sec. 7. 30-A MRSA §4722, sub-§l, ~X, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 
Pt. I, §7 and affected by §8, is amended to read: 
X. 
Advise 
the 
Governor 
and 
other 
officials 
of 
State 
Government on matters relating to energy conservationTj and 
Sec. 8. 30-A MRSA §4722, sub-§l, tv is enacted to read: 
Y. 
Expand access to housing for young professionals and 
young families. 
The 
Maine 
State Housing Authority shall 
develop recommendations to create or modify programs with 
the 
goal 
of 
expanding 
access 
to 
housing 
for 
young 
professionals and young families. 
The Maine State Housing 
Authority shall specifically consider strategies to assist 
renters and first-time home buyers who are under 35 years of 
age and explore options for linking assistance levels to 
student loan obligations. 
The Maine State Housing Authority 
shall collaborate with the Maine Community College System, 
vocational high schools and community action programs to 
encourage the development of affordable housing in high-cost 
housing areas of the State. 
(l) 
The Maine State Housing Authority shall report its 
findings and recommendations regarding expanded access 
to housing for young professionals and young families 
to the Future for Youth in Maine State Work Action 
Tactics Team established in Title 5, section 13161 and 
to 
the 
joint standing committee of 
the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over housing matters no later than 
January 15, 2005 and annually thereafter. 
SUMMARY 
The 
purpose 
of 
this 
bill 
is 
to 
create 
and 
expand 
opportunities in Maine to retain and attract youth, defined as 
persons 15 to 35 years of age. 
This bill does the following. 
1. 
It directs the Department of 
Development to develop and implement a 
strategy to promote Maine to youth as an 
pursue 
education, 
employment 
and 
opportunities. 
Economic 
and Community 
comprehensive marketing 
attractive location to 
business 
development 
2. 
It establishes the Future for Youth in Maine State Work 
Action 
Tactics 
Team, 
"S.W.A.T.," 
to 
bring 
together 
representatives of government, education, business and labor in a 
focused, 
coordinated effort to realign, streamline and oversee 
the State's economic development policy and specific efforts to 
retain and attract youth. 
The 
S.W.A.T. 
team consists of 
policy-making members, 
including at least 2 members 
under 
years of age, and 8 advisory members. 
3. 
It directs the trustees of the University of Maine 
System and the Maine Community College System to develop and 
implement a formal process to work collaboratively with public 
and private sector representatives of business, 
industry and 
economic development to coordinate higher education planning and 
resource allocation decisions with the 
needs 
of 
the State's 
economy and business sector. 
The bill also directs the trustees 
to develop a comprehensive plan to coordinate higher education 
wi th the needs of the business sector and requires the plan to 
address the needs of the business sector with respect to research 
and 
development, 
the 
commercialization 
of 
new 
products 
and 
services, business development and workforce training. 
4. 
It directs the Maine State Housing Authority to develop 
recommendations to create or modify programs with the goal of 
expanding access to housing for young professionals and young 
families 
and 
specifically 
to 
consider 
strategies 
to 
assist 
renters and first-time home buyers who are under 35 years of age 
and explore options for linking assistance levels to student loan 
obligations.