An Act To Create State and Regional Quality of Place Investment Strategies for High-value Jobs, Products and Services in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1389
Committee Amendment CA_A_S353 (Senate)
Amends: 30-A MRSA §2343, 5 MRSA §7020

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 505, L.D. 1389, Bill, "An Act To 
Create State and Regional Quality of Place Investment Strategies for High-value Jobs, 
Products and Services in Maine" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Create Regional Quality of Place Investment Strategies for High-value 
Jobs, Products and Services in Maine' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summalY and inselting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 5 MRSA Pt. 16-A is enacted to read: 
PART 16-A 
MAINE QUALITY OF PLACE 
CHAPTER 363 
MAINE QUALITY OF PLACE JOBS CREATION AND INVESTMENT 
STRATEGY 
§7019. Definitions 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
. 
1. Council. "Council" means the Maine Quality of Place Council set out under 
section 7020. 
2. Economic development district. "Economic development district" means an 
economic development district as defined in 42 United States Code, Section 3122(3) that 
has a comprehensive economic development strategy under 42 United States Code, 
Section 3 1 62. 
Page I - 124LR0707(05)-1 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. A 
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3. 
Quality of place assets. 
"Quality of place assets" means those exceptional, 
marketable, place-based competitive strengths, resources and advantages that drive the 
local and regional economy and its sustainability, including: 
A. Sustainable economic activities based on natural resources, including farming, 
fishing, forestlY, nature-based and heritage-based tourism and outdoor recreation and 
leisure; 
B. Downtowns and community centers; 
C. Historic buildings, structures and related facilities; 
D. Arts, culture and creative economy activities; 
E. Landscapes, including the working landscapes of farms, forests and waterfi'onts; 
F. Access to outdoor recreational activities and leisure over public and private lands, 
including motorized and non motorized activities; 
G. Skills and knowledge of a workforce that relate to quality of place, including but 
not limited to those of workers in fishing, farming, forestry, research, historic 
preservation, the arts and culture, tourism and outdoor recreation and leisure; and 
H. Intellectual assets, including schools and colleges, research institutes, museums 
and educational programs. 
4. Regional quality of place assets inventOl1'. "Regional quality of place assets 
inventOly" means a listing, mapping and assessment of identified local and regional 
quality of place assets. 
5. Regional quality of place investment strategy. 
"Regional quality of place 
investment strategy" means a plan of action, including proposed sources of funding, that 
makes use of a regional quality of place assets inventOlY to achieve the following goals: 
A. Creation of new, high-value jobs, products and services in the geographic area 
served by an economic development district; 
B. Increased regional investment, incomes and public revenues; and 
C. Increased protection, enhancement and marketing of assets identified as economic 
drivers in a regional quality of place assets inventory. 
§7020. Maine Quality of Place Council 
1. 
Composition. 
The Maine Quality of Place Council, established in section 
12004-G, subsection 29-C, consists of the following 12 members: 
A. Six ex officio members: 
(1) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development; 
(2) The Commissioner of Transportation; 
(3) Two commissioners selected by the Governor from the following agencies: 
the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, the Department of 
Conservation, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the 
Department of Marine Resources; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 505, L.D. 1389 
(4) The Director of the State Planning Office within the Executive Depaliment; 
and 
(5) The chair of the Maine State Cultural Affairs Council established in section 
12004-G, subsection 7-A; and 
B. Six private citizen members, appointed by the Governor, subject to approval by 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, 
research and economic development matters and to confirmation by the Legislature. 
8' 
The private citizen members must be selected for their knowledge of and 
demonstrated commitment to protecting, enhancing and building upon the State's 
natural, historic, cultural, intellectual, tourism, outdoor recreational and downtown 
assets for marketability and jobs creation. One private citizen member must be a 
representative of an economic development district. 
2. 
Terms. 
The members of the council appointed pursuant to subsection 1, 
paragraph B serve for 2-year terms. Each private citizen member of the council serves 
until that member's successor is appointed and qualified. A private citizen member of the 
council is eligible for reappointment. 
3. Vacancy. A vacancy in the council does not impair the right of a quorum of the 
members to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the council. In the event 
of a vacancy occurring in the membership, the Governor shall appoint a replacement 
member for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner in which the original 
appointment was made. 
4. Chair; vice-chail·. At the first meeting of the council, the council shall. elect from 
its membership a chair and a vice-chair. The chair and vice-chair serve for one-year 
terms. The chair and vice-chair serve until their successors are elected. The chair calls 
meetings of the council and presides over meetings. The vice-chair serves as the chair in 
the absence of the chair. The Director of the State Planning Office within the Executive 
Department shall call the first meeting of the council as soon as all initial appointments to 
the council have been made. 
5. Meetings; quorum. The council shall meet at least 3 times each year. The chair 
shall establish the agenda. A quorum of the council is 7 members. 
6. 
Compensation. Members of the council appointed pursuant to subsection 1, 
paragraph B are entitled to receive compensation for travel expenses as allowed under 
section 12004-G, subsection 29-C while engaged in council activities. The Executive 
Depaliment, State Planning Office shall absorb these costs. 
7. Assistance. The Depatiment of Economic and Community Development and the 
Executive Depatiment, State Planning Office shall jointly provide staff support to the 
council. The Department of Economic and Community Development; the Depaliment of 
Conservation; the Depaliment of TranspOliation; the Maine State Cultural Affairs 
Council established in section 12004-G, subsection 7-A; the Department of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife; the Depaliment of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources; the 
Department of Marine Resources; the Executive Department, State Planning Office; and 
all other state agencies shall provide assistance considered necessary by the council to 
fulfill the objectives of this chapter. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 505, L.D. 1389 
§7020-A. Council responsibilities 
The council shall facilitate interagency coordination of state and regional activities 
regarding regional quality of place investment strategies. 
1. 
Standards and guidance. 
In consultation with directors of economic 
development districts, the council shall establish standards and guidelines for regional 
quality of place investment strategies. The standards and guidelines must ensure that 
regional quality of place investment strategies are developed with broad public input. 
The council shall provide guidance to directors of economic development districts for 
integrating regional capital investment plans, regional transpOltation plans and other 
regional plans and strategies with regional quality of place investment strategies. 
II 
IS 
2. Interagency coordination. The council shall work with relevant state agencies to 
identify how they can actively promote, strengthen and support effOlts to make best use 
of the State's quality of place assets, including initiatives that support and implement 
regional quality of place investment strategies. State agencies are encouraged to fund 
projects that are identified as priorities in regional asset-based strategies developed by 
economic development districts according to the guidance in this chapter. The council 
shall coordinate its work with other state economic plans and with the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic 
development matters. The council shall also consult with the Department of Economic 
and Community Development in the context of its economic development strategy 
authority under section 13053; the Maine Development Foundation in the context of its 
economic development strategy authority under Title 10, section 917-A, subsection 2; the 
Maine Economic Growth Council in the context of its economic development strategy 
authority under Title 10, section 929-B, subsection I; the Maine Community College 
System; and the University of Maine System. 
3. Performance measures. In consultation with directors of economic development 
districts, the council shall develop performance measures to assess the contributions of 
regional quality of place investment strategies to the goals described in section 7019, 
subsection 5. 
4. Annual report. The council shall report on its activities to the Governor and seek 
input from and repOlt on its activities to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development matters prior to 
December 31 st of each year. In its report, the council shall describe whether and how 
regional quality of place investment strategies have contributed to the goals described in 
section 7019, subsection 5 and make any recommendations necessary to fmther the 
purposes of this chapter. 
Sec. 2. 5 MRS A §12004-G, sub-§29-C is enacted to read: 
29-C. 
Natural and Built 
Maine Quality of 
Assets 
Place Council 
Travel Expenses for 
Appointed Members 
Sec. 3. 30-A MRSA §2343 is enacted to read: 
MRSA §7020 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A 
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§2343. Regional quality of place investment strategies 
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A. "Economic development district" has the same meaning as in Title 5, section 
7019, subsection 2. 
B. 
"Quality of place assets" has the same meaning as in Title 5, section 70 J 9, 
subsection 3. 
C. "Regional quality of place assets inventOlY" has the same meaning as in Title 5, 
section 7019, subsection 4. 
D. "Regional quality of place investment strategy" has the same meaning as in Title 
II 
5, section 7019, subsection 5. 
2. Regional quality of place investment stl'3tegies. If an economic development 
district chooses to develop a regional quality of place assets inventOlY and regional 
quality of place investment strategy, the economic development district shall seek 
involvement from leading representatives of natural resources-based businesses, tourism, 
outdoor recreation and leisure, land conservation, arts and culture, historic preservation, 
downtown and community revitalization and municipal, transp0l1ation and workforce 
development interests within the region and any other entity that represents regional 
business or economic development interests, as well as consult with the Maine Quality of 
Place Council as established in Title 5, chapter 363. In addition to a regional quality of 
place assets inventory, a regional quality of place investment strategy must include: 
A. 
Identification of sustainable market opp0l1unities that make best use of the 
region's identified quality of place assets; 
B. An investment plan that includes one or more initiatives designed to realize the 
identified market opportunities; 
C. 
Priorities among the region's identified and recommended quality of place 
investments and initiatives; 
D. 
Opp0l1unities and approaches for leveraging other public and private 
development activities and funds to support the regional quality of place investment 
strategy; and 
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E. A plan to achieve full implementation, monitoring and measurement of the results 
of the regional quality of place investment strategy. 
. 
Sec. 4. Staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, 
section 7020, subsection 2, of the initial appointments of the private citizen members of 
the Maine Quality of Place Council, 2 members must be appointed for 2-year terms, 2 
members must be appointed for 3-year terms and 2 members must be appointed for 
4-year terms.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority report of the committee and it strikes and replaces 
the bill. Like the bill, the amendment establishes the Maine Quality of Place Council. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A 
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Under the amendment, the council is composed of 12 members, including 6 state agency 
representatives and 6 private citizens. 
The amendment requires that the council, in 
consultation with directors of economic development districts, establish standards and 
guidelines for regional quality of place investment strategies. It also requires the council 
to work with relevant state agencies to identify how they can actively promote, strengthen 
and suppmi effmis to make best use of Maine's quality of place assets, including 
initiatives that support and implement regional quality of place investment strategies, and 
to encourage state agencies to fund projects that are identified as priorities in regional 
asset-based strategies developed by econoinic development districts. The amendment 
requires the council to coordinate its work with other state economic plans and with the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research 
and economic development matters. The amendment defines "quality of place assets" to 
mean those exceptional, marketable, place-based competitive strengths, resources and 
advantages that drive the local and regional economy and its sustainability, including: 
1. 
Sustainable economic activities based on natural resources, including fanning, 
fishing, forestry, nature-based and heritage-based tourism and outdoor recreation and 
leisure; 
2. Downtowns and community centers; 
3. Historic buildings, structures and related facilities; 
4. Arts, culture and creative economy activities; 
5. Landscapes, including the working landscapes of farms, forests and waterfronts; 
6. Access to outdoor recreational activities and leisure over public and private lands, 
including motorized and nonmotorized activities; 
7. Skills and knowledge of a workforce that relate to quality of place, including but 
not limited to those of workers in fishing, farming, forestry, research, historic 
preservation, the aIis and culture, tourism and outdoor recreation and leisure; and 
8. Intellectual assets, including schools and colleges, research institutes, museums 
and educational programs. 
The amendment fUliher charges the Department of Economic and Community 
Development and the Executive Department, State Planning Office with jointly staffing 
the council and requires an annual repmi from the council to the Governor and the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and 
econom ic development matters. 
The amendment also provides that if an economic development district chooses to 
develop a regional quality of place assets inventory and regional quality of place 
investment strategy, then the district shall seek involvement from leading representatives 
of natural resources-based businesses, tourism, outdoor recreation and leisure, land 
conservation, alis and culture, historic preservation, downtown and community 
revitalization and municipal, transportation and workforce development interests within 
the region and any other entity that represents regional business or economic 
development interests, as well as consult with the cOllncil. It requires that, in addition to 
a regional quality of place assets inventory, a regional quality of place investment 
strategy must include identification of sustainable market opportunities that make best 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,-A" Lo S.P. 505, L.D. 1389 
use of the region's identified quality of place assets, an investment plan that includes one 
or 1110re initiatives designed to realize the identified market opportunities, priorities 
among the region's identified and recommended quality of place investments and 
initiatives, oppoliunities and approaches for leveraging other public and private 
development activities and funds to support the regional quality of place investment 
strategy and a plan to achieve full implementation, monitoring and measurement of the 
results of the strategy. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 0110411 0 .wac 
LD 1389 
LR 707(05) 
An Act To Create State and Regional Quality of Place Investment Strategies for High-value Jobs, 
Products and Services in Maine 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" 
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the State Planning Office and the Department of Economic and Community Development to serve 
on the Maine Quality of Place Council and to provide staff support can be absorbed within existing budgeted 
resources. Additional costs to other State agencies and organizations to provide the necessary assistance in order for 
the Council to fulfill the required objectives of this legislation can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0707(05) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I 
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