An Act To Support Realize!Maine To Attract and Retain Young People in the State's Workforce
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0750
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: PINGREE, RA YE, BARSTOW, CAIN, FISCHER, KAENRATH, PERCY, PRATT, ROBINSON, BARTLETT
Amends: 10 MRSA §917-A

Legislative Document 
No. 750 
H.P.571 
House of Representatives, February 13,2007 
An Act To Support Realize!Maine To Attract and Retain Young 
People in the State's Workforce 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative PINGREE of North Haven. 
Cosponsored by Senator RA YE of Washington and 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BARSTOW of Gorham, CAIN of Orono, FISCHER of Presque Isle, 
KAENRATH of South Portland, PERCY of Phippsburg, PRATT of Eddington, ROBINSON of 
Raymond, Senator: BARTLETT of Cumberland. 
Printed on recyc led paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA c. 389, as amended, is repealed. 
Sec.2. 10 MRSA §917-A, sub-§6 is enacted to read: 
6. Retain and attract youne people. The Maine Development Foundation shall 
bring together representatives of government, education, business and labor in a focused, 
coordinated effort to recommend to the Governor and the Legislature and to oversee 
strategies, including realigning and streamlining the State's economic development 
policies and resources, and specific efforts to retain and attract youth, which for the 
purposes of this subsection means persons 15 to 40 years of age. The Maine Development 
Foundation shall: 
A. 
Recommend to the Governor and Legislature and oversee and evaluate the 
implementation of education policies that focus on meeting the needs of the labor 
market and the business community and economic development priorities; 
B. 
Recommend to the Governor and Legislature and oversee and evaluate the 
implementation of 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) Recommending a comprehensive action plan for economic development and 
education policy initiatives specifically designed to expand opportunities for 
youth; 
(2) Maintaining a publicly accessible website 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 website must target current and prospective students ages 20 to 40 
and must provide career, living, social, cultural and recreational opportunities, 
including professional networking and mentoring; internship programs; and 
outreach and recruitment for youth: 
(3) Recommending and overseeing the implementation of 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, required education and training and lists of high-growth 
occupations, high-paying jobs and occupational shortages; and 
(4) Recommending and overseeing the implementation of 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 
required for different careers; 
C. 
Assist the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College 
System in the'ir development of a comprehensive 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; 
D. Review the need for and develop proposals for funding to develop professional 
health care education and training at the University of Maine System and the Maine 
Community College System that will increase employment opportunities throughout 
the State; and 
E. Monitor 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 . 
Nothing in this subsection may be construed to provide the Maine Development 
Foundation with any authority regarding the policies and resources of the Maine 
Community College System or the University of Maine System or the board of trustees of 
either system. 
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. 
The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
MAINE DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION 
Maine Development Foundation 
Initiative: Provides funds to support and increase activities, programs and outreach at the 
Realize!Maine program under the auspices of the Maine Development Foundation. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
2007-08 
$100,000 
$100,000 
2008-09 
$100,000 
$100,000 
SUMMARY 
This bill augments the efforts of ReaIize!Maine, under the auspices of the Maine 
Development Foundation, to retain and attract young people to live, work and recreate in 
Maine. The bill also repeals the "S.W.A.T. team" law and incorporates the responsibilities 
formerly set out in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 389 into the 
responsibilities of the Maine Development Foundation.