An Act To Increase Funding To Support Research and Development in the University of Maine System
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1064
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: FAIRCLOTH, TURNER, BEAUDETTE, CAIN, FISCHER, PINGREE, SMITH, TARDY, MARTIN, MITCHELL
Amends: 5 MRSA §1666

Legislative Document 
No. 1064 
H.P.782 
House of Representatives, March 6, 2007 
An Act To Increase Funding To Support Research and Development 
in the University of Maine System 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative FAIRCLOTH of Bangor. 
Cosponsored by Senator TURNER of Cumberland and 
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1J1. 7IldC;{z:tJ~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BEAUDETTE of Biddeford, CAIN of Orono, FISCHER of Presque Isle, 
PINGREE of North Haven, SMITH of Monmouth, TARDY of Newport, Senators: MARTIN 
of Aroostook, MITCHELL of Kennebec. 
PflIHeu on re(.:ycleti paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §1666, as amended by PL 2005, c. 601, §4, is further amended by 
enacting a new 4th paragraph to read: 
Beginning for fiscal year 2008-09, a budget document transmitted by the Governor or 
Governor-elect must include a funding level recommendation for research and 
development at the University of Maine System through the Maine Economic 
Improvement Fund established in Title 10, chapter 107-C. 
The funding level 
recommendation for fiscal year 2008-09 must be an amount not less than 1 % of the total 
actual General Fund revenue for fiscal year 2007-08, and for each subsequent fiscal year 
the percentage of the prior year's General Fund revenue that determines the funding level 
recommendation must increase by an amount not less than two tenths of 1 % so that the 
funding level recommendation for fiscal year 2018-19 must equal not less than 3% of the 
General Fund revenues for fiscal year 2017-18. For a fiscal year subsequent to fiscal year 
2017 -18, a funding level recommendation required under this paragraph must be an 
amount not less than 3% of the General Fund revenues for the previous fiscal year. If a 
budget document transmitted by the Governor or Governor-elect contains a funding level 
recommendation for such research and development is less than the amount required by 
this paragraph, the Governor or Governor-elect shall simultaneously with the 
transmission of the budget document submit a report explaining the funding difference to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations 
and financial affairs matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over research and development matters. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires the Governor or Governor-elect to include in the budget submitted 
to the Legislature beginning in fiscal year 2008-09 a funding level recommendation for 
research and development for the University of Maine System through the Maine 
Economic Improvement Fund that equals at least 1 % of the previous year's General Fund 
revenue and to increase the amount ofthe previous General Fund revenue each fiscal year 
by two tenths of 1 % so that the funding level recommendation for fiscal year 2018-19 and 
beyond will equal at least 3% of the General Fund revenues for the previous fiscal year. 
If the Governor or Governor-elect recommends less than these amounts, then the 
Governor must submit a report explaining the funding difference to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs 
matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
research and development matters.