An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Committee To Study the Prison Industries Program
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2113
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I, 34-A MRSA §3002-B

Legislative Document 
No. 2113 
H.P.1499 
House of Representati yes, December 31, 2007 
An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Committee To 
Study the Prison Industries Program 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reported by Representative GERZOFSKY of Brunswick for the Committee To Study the 
Prison Industries Program pursuant to Joint Order 2007, H.P. l334. 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed under Joint Rule 218. 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
I 
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 Act needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period in 
order for the Prison Industries Advisory Council to be established and begin its work as 
soon as possible in aiding the Department of Corrections in its effort to improve 
efficiencies and accountability in the prison industries program; 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 enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§4-B is enacted to read: 
4-B. 
Corrections 
Prison Industries 
Advisory Council 
Not Authorized 
Sec. 2. 34-A MRSA §3002-B is enacted to read: 
§3002-B. Prison Industries Advisory Council 
34-A MRSA 
§3002-B 
1. Appointments. The commissioner shall appoint the 6-member Prison Industries 
Advisory Council, referred to in this section as "the council," as established by Title 5, 
section 12004-1, subsection 4-B. The term of office for members is 3 years. The initial 
appointments are: 
A. Three members for 3 years; 
B. Two member for 2 years; and 
C. One member for one year. 
A replacement for a council member who does not complete the council member's term 
of office serves for the remainder of the unexpired term. 
2. Council members. The council members must include at least 3 private sector 
representatives, each of whom is a business professional in the area of marketing, 
financial management, manufacturing or retail sales. In addition, council members must 
include 2 State Government representatives who work in the areas of prison security, 
1 
labor or economic development. The commissioner shall also appoint one department 
employee to serve as a nonvoting member. 
3. Duties. The council shall work in cooperation with managers of prison industries 
programs, prison security staff and the business community to identify methods to 
enhance programs and improve efficiency of operations, including at a minimum: 
A. Developing a business and marketing plan for prison industries; 
B. 
Developing recommendations to improve advertising and retail sales and 
exploring more diversified product lines; 
C. Reviewing the financial reporting and accounting systems and recommending a 
consistent and uniform format for all prison industries reporting; and 
D. Making recommendations related to creating prison industries under the federal 
Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program authorized by 18 United States 
Code, Section 1761(2006). 
4. Meetings; reports. The council shall meet at least quarterly, shall make interim 
recommendations and at least an annual report to the commissioner and shall send copies 
of all interim recommendations and reports to the members of the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety 
matters. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited In the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill is the recommendation of the Committee To Study the Prison Industries 
Program pursuant to Joint Order 2007, H.P. 1334. The bill creates the Prison Industries 
Advisory Council to help the Department of Corrections develop new marketing 
strategies and more diversified product lines and to identify methods to enhance programs 
and improve efficiency of operations throughout the prison industries system.