An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on Research, Economic Development and the Innovation Economy
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0253
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Amends: 5 MRSA §1664, 5 MRSA §12004-I, 5 MRSA §13106, 5 MRSA §13107, 10 MRSA §929-A, 10 MRSA §929-C

Legislative Document 
No. 253 
S.P.90 
January 18,2007 
An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Joint Select 
Committee on Research, Economic Development and the Innovation 
Economy 
Submitted by the Joint Select Committee on Research, Economic Development and the 
Innovation Economy pursuant to Joint Order 2006, S.P. 847. 
Reported by Senator BROMLEY of Cumberland for the Joint Select Committee on 
Research, Economic Development and the Innovation Economy pursuant to Joint Order 2006, 
S.P.847. 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed under Joint Rule 218. 
Prmteu on recydeJ p;J.per 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §1664, sub-§3-A is enacted to read: 
3-A. Funding for research and development. Beginning in fiscal year 2008-09, 
the Governor, when submitting the budget document to the Legislature pursuant to 
section 1666, shall submit a funding level recommendation for research and development. 
The recommendation must be transmitted to the Legislature within the time schedules set 
forth in section 1666. The Governor shall submit legislation setting forth appropriations 
for applied research and development that are the equivalent of not less than 1 % of total 
actual General Fund revenue of the previous fiscal year. For each successive year for the 
next 10 fiscal years, the Governor shall increase the funding level recommendations by at 
least 2110 of 1 %. By fiscal year 2018-19, the Governor shall submit legislation setting 
forth appropriations for research and development that are the equivalent of not less than 
3% of total actual General Fund revenue of the previous fiscal year. If the Governor's 
budget sets forth recommendations for research and development that differ from the 
levels described in this subsection, the Governor shall simultaneously submit a report to 
the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations 
and financial affairs and research and development matters explaining the funding 
difference. 
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§6-G is enacted to read: 
6-G. 
Economic 
Development 
Maine Innovation 
Economy 
Advisory Board 
Not Authorized 
MRS A §949 
Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §13106, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 673, Pt. M, §8, is 
amended to read: 
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-;-aOO~ 
This subsection is repealed January 1, 2008; and 
Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §13107, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 673, Pt. M, §8, is amended to 
read: 
§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 1 st every 5 years thereafter an evaluation of state investments in 
research and development, as well as an annual progress report from the office and the 
independent reviewers under subsection 2 beginning on February 1, 2008 and on 
February 1st every year thereafter. 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. 
The 
independent reviewers must incorporate the goals and objectives described in the State's 
innovation economy action plan, as described in Title 10, chapter 107-D, in their analysis 
of the success of the State's investments in research and development; 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. 
By February 1, 2008 and by February 1st every year thereafter, the office and the 
independent reviewers under subsection 2 shall submit to the Governor and the 
Legislature a progress report related to the 5-year evaluation reguired under this section. 
The independent reviewers must incorporate the goals and objectives described in the 
State's innovation economy action plan, as described in Title 10, chapter 107-D, in their 
analysis of the success of the State's investments in research and development. 
Sec. 5. 10 MRSA §929-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1995, c. 688, §9, is further 
amended to read: 
2. Membership. The council consists of 19 members. The Governor, President of 
the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives shall jointly appoint the 
following 18 members, 2 of whom shall serve as cochairs of the council: 
A. 
FeW'teea Thirteen members having a broad range of expertise in areas including 
but not limited to: labor, environment, business, and education; aad 
B. 
Four members of the Legislature with a demonstrated interest in economic 
development,.; and 
C. O!l£member from the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board under section 
949. 
The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or the commissioner's 
designee is a member of the council. 
Sec. 6. 10 MRSA §929-C is enacted to read: 
§929-C. Research and development budgetarY recommendations 
The Maine Economic Growth Council, established in section 929-A, with input from 
the Office of Innovation, established pursuant to Title 5, section l3105, and the Maine 
Innovation Economy Advisory Board, under section 949, shall review the innovation 
economy action plan, as described in Title 10, chapter 107-D, and develop specific annual 
budgetary recommendations to support the plan's vision and goals. 
These 
recommendations must include specific bonding and General Fund appropriations 
l3 
investment levels. 
By June 1st of each year, the council shall submit its 
recommendations, along with an annual accountability update that summarizes the State's 
commitment to research and development investments in the prior year, to the Governor, 
the Legislature and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over business, research and economic development issues. 
Sec. 7. 10 MRSA c. 107-D is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 107-D 
MAINE INNOVATION ECONOMY ADVISORY BOARD 
§949. Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board 
1. Establishment. The Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board, referred to in 
this chapter as "the advisory board" and established by Title 5, section 12004-1, 
subsection 6-G, is established to coordinate the State's research and development 
activities and to foster collaboration among its higher education and nonprofit research 
institutions and members of the business community. 
2. Appointment and composition. The advisory board consists of 19 members. 
The Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives shall each appoint 5 members with demonstrated high-level expertise 
from a broad cross section of industry and technology sectors representing the breadth of 
research and development activities from basic research to commercialization of new 
products and services. 
The advisory board also consists of 4 ex officio members, 
including the cochairs of the Maine Economic Growth Council, established in section 
929-A; the Director of the Maine Technology Institute, established in Title 5, section 
12004-G, subsection 33-D; and the Director of the Office of Innovation, established 
pursuant to Title 5, section l3105. 
3. Terms; vacancies; limits. The term of office for appointed members of the 
advisory board is 3 years. 
When a vacancy occurs, it must be filled by the same 
appointing authority, and the new member shall serve for the remainder of the term. 
Members who serve on the advisory board by virtue of their offices serve terms 
coincident with their terms in office. 
Members may continue to serve until their 
replacements are designated. A vacancy in a position held by an ex officio member, 
except the cochairs of the Maine Economic Growth Council, that occurs other than by the 
expiration of a term must be filled by a designee appointed by the Commissioner of 
Economic and Community Development for the unexpired term. 
4. Chair; election of officers. The members of the advisory board shall annually 
elect one of the advisory board's members as chair and one of its members as vice-chair 
to set the agenda and schedule meetings. The advisory board may elect other officers and 
designate their duties. 
5. Voting rights. Each member of the advisory board has a vote. 
6. 
Meetings. 
The advisory board shall hold quarterly meetings each year. 
Additional meetings may be held as necessary to conduct the business of the advisory 
board. 
7. Compensation. Members of the advisory board are not entitled to compensation. 
8. Adoption of bylaws. The advisory board shall adopt bylaws consistent with this 
section for the governance of its affairs and to address the resolution of conflicts of 
interest that may arise. 
9. Quorum. A majority of the members of the advisory board constitutes a quorum. 
10. Staff support. The Office of Innovation shall provide staff support the advisory 
board to carry out the purposes of this section. 
11. Powers and duties. 
The powers and duties of the advisory board are as set out 
in this subsection. 
A. The advisory board shall develop an innovation economy action plan for the 
application of science and technology to improve the State's position in the global 
economy. The plan must identify specific steps that public and private research 
institutions must implement to improve the State's science and technology 
infrastructure, goals for encouraging collaborative initiatives among public and 
private research institutions, steps that can be implemented immediately without new 
state funding and resources and steps that will require new state appropriations or 
major reallocation of state appropriations and resources. The plan must include 
numerical objectives, costs and an evaluation protocol, as well as a provision for 
assigning and ensuring accountability for those who receive state research and 
development funds from the State. 
B. 
The advisory board shall assist state and federal policy makers in advancing 
research and development capacity initiatives in Maine and in developing 
corresponding funding strategies; provide input on economic planning and the 
commercial application of the State's research and development efforts; facilitate 
research opportunities that create sustained, interinstitutional, collaborative, 
mUltidisciplinary, centers-based research projects; advocate for the State's research 
and development sector and interests; disseminate information about its work 
throughout the State; and serve as the EPSCoR committee, as referred to in Title 5, 
section 13110, for the State and evaluate proposals made to the EPSCoR and related 
programs. 
12. Annual report. The advisory board shall submit the annual innovation economy 
action plan developed under subsection 11 to the Maine Economic Growth Council by 
the first Wednesday in March of each year, beginning in 2008. The advisory board shall 
also submit its innovation economy action plan to the joint standing .committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development and to 
the Governor by the first Wednesday in March of each year, beginning in 2008. 
Sec. 8. Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board; staggered terms for 
initial appointees. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 10, section 949, 
subsection 3, the terms of the members initially appointed are staggered as follows: 5 are 
one-year terms, 5 are 2-year terms and 5 are 3-year terms. The initial appointments must 
be made as follows: of the 5 initial appointments made by the Governor, one is for a one-
year term, 3 are for 2-year terms and one is for a 3-year term; 
of the 5 initial 
appointments made by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 2 are for one-year 
terms, one is for a 2-year term and 2 are for 3-year terms; and of the 5 initial 
appointments made by the President of the Senate, 2 are for one-year terms, one is for a 
2-year term and 2 are for 3-year terms. 
Sec. 9. Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause. In the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 10, chapter 107, in the chapter headnote, the words "Maine 
Development Foundation" are amended to read "Maine Development Foundation; Maine 
Economic Growth Council," and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision 
when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes. 
SUMMARY 
This bill implements recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on Research, 
Economic Development and the Innovation Economy. The bill establishes the Maine 
Innovation Economy Advisory Board in statute. It amends the membership of the Maine 
Economic Growth Council to add a member from the Maine Innovation Economy 
Advisory Board. It requires the Maine Economic Growth Council to develop research 
and development budgetary recommendations. It sets a minimum recommendation level 
for research and development for the Governor's proposed budget to the Legislature. It 
requires an annual progress report relating to the 5-year evaluation of state investments in 
research and development.