An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Support the Growth of and To Build Infrastructure for the Marine and Biotechnology Sectors of the State's Economy
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1756
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: EVES, BURNS, BERRY, CASSIDY, HUBBELL, ALFOND, KATZ, LANGLEY, VALENTINO

Legislative Document 
No. 1756 
H.P. 1260 
House of Representatives, January 30, 2014 
An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Support the 
Growth of and To Build Infrastructure for the Marine and 
Biotechnology Sectors of the State's Economy 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Speaker EVES of North Berwick. 
Cosponsored by Senator BURNS of Washington and 
Representatives: BERRY of Bowdoinham, CASSIDY of Lubec, HUBBELL of Bar Harbor, 
Senators: President ALFOND of Cumberland, KATZ of Kennebec, LANGLEY of Hancock, 
VALENTINO of York. 
Preamble.  Two thirds of both Houses of the Legislature deeming it necessary in 
accordance with the Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 14 to authorize the 
issuance of bonds on behalf of the State of Maine to provide funds as described in this 
Act, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
PART A 
Sec. A-1.  Authorization of bonds.  The Treasurer of State is authorized, under 
the direction of the Governor, to issue bonds in the name and on behalf of the State in an 
amount not exceeding $30,000,000 for the purposes described in section 5 of this Part.  
The bonds are a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State.  The bonds may not run for 
a period longer than 10 years from the date of the original issue of the bonds. 
Sec. A-2.  Records of bonds issued; Treasurer of State. The Treasurer of 
State shall ensure that an account of each bond is kept showing the number of the bond, 
the name of the successful bidder to whom sold, the amount received for the bond, the 
date of sale and the date when payable. 
Sec. A-3.  Sale; how negotiated; proceeds appropriated.  The Treasurer of 
State may negotiate the sale of the bonds by direction of the Governor, but no bond may 
be loaned, pledged or hypothecated on behalf of the State.  The proceeds of the sale of the 
bonds, which must be held by the Treasurer of State and paid by the Treasurer of State 
upon warrants drawn by the State Controller, are appropriated solely for the purposes set 
forth in this Part.  Any unencumbered balances remaining at the completion of the project 
in this Part lapse to the Office of the Treasurer of State to be used for the retirement of 
general obligation bonds. 
Sec. A-4.  Interest and debt retirement.  The Treasurer of State shall pay 
interest due or accruing on any bonds issued under this Part and all sums coming due for 
payment of bonds at maturity. 
Sec. A-5.  Disbursement of bond proceeds from General Fund bond issue.  
The proceeds of the sale of the bonds authorized under this Part must be expended as 
designated in the following schedule under the direction and supervision of the agencies 
and entities set forth in this section. 
Provides funds, to be matched by $15,000,000 in other funds, to establish a state 
center for marine economy coordinated and managed by the University of New 
England in partnership with public sector and private sector marine research centers 
and marine industries throughout the State, including but not limited to the Southern 
Maine Community College; the University of Maine at Machias, Downeast Institute 
of Applied Marine Research and Education; and the Cobscook Community Learning 
Center, to facilitate the growth of business and commercial enterprises that create 
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY 
DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF 
jobs in the State's marine economy and related industries and interests through capital 
investments in a shared marine research and resource vessel; infrastructure and 
equipment to support the vessel and its statewide operations; expanded facilities 
statewide to support collaboration and commercialization; and infrastructure and 
equipment for experimental sea- and land-based sustainable aquaculture sites located 
around the State. 
Provides funds, to be matched by $16,000,000 in other funds, to establish at the 
Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor a center for biometric analysis using state-of-the-
art technologies to expand the State's research capabilities in the area of medical 
analytics, make the State a global resource for precision medicine, improve the State's 
capacity to attract and retain young professionals and facilitate additional grant 
funding, private sector investment, job growth and economic activity in the State. 
Sec. A-6.  Contingent upon ratification of bond issue.  Sections 1 to 5 do not 
become effective unless the people of the State ratify the issuance of the bonds as set 
forth in this Part. 
Sec. A-7.  Appropriation balances at year-end.  At the end of each fiscal year, 
all unencumbered appropriation balances representing state money carry forward.  Bond 
proceeds that have not been expended within 10 years after the date of the sale of the 
bonds lapse to the Office of the Treasurer of State to be used for the retirement of general 
obligation bonds. 
Sec. A-8.  Bonds authorized but not issued.  Any bonds authorized but not 
issued within 5 years of ratification of this Part are deauthorized and may not be issued, 
except that the Legislature may, within 2 years after the expiration of that 5-year period, 
extend the period for issuing any remaining unissued bonds for an additional amount of 
time not to exceed 5 years. 
Sec. A-9.  Referendum for ratification; submission at election; form of 
question; effective date.  This Part must be submitted to the legal voters of the State at 
a statewide election held in the month of November following passage of this Act.  The 
municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns 
and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, 
to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Part by voting on the following question: 
"Do you favor a $30,000,000 bond issue to: 
1.  Provide $15,000,000 in funds to establish a state center for marine 
economy coordinated and managed by the University of New England in 
partnership with public sector and private sector marine research centers 
and marine industries throughout the State, including but not limited to 
Total 
$15,000,000
Total 
$15,000,000
the Southern Maine Community College; the University of Maine at 
Machias, Downeast Institute of Applied Marine Research and Education; 
and the Cobscook Community Learning Center, to facilitate the growth 
of business and commercial enterprises that create jobs in the State's 
marine economy and related industries and interests through capital 
investments in a shared marine research and resource vessel; 
infrastructure and equipment to support the vessel and its statewide 
operations; expanded facilities statewide to support collaboration and 
commercialization; and infrastructure and equipment for experimental 
sea- and land-based sustainable aquaculture sites located around the 
State, to be matched by $15,000,000 in private and public contributions; 
and 
2.  Provide funds to establish at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor a 
center for biometric analysis using state-of-the-art technologies to expand 
the State's research capabilities in the area of medical analytics, make the 
State a global resource for precision medicine, improve the State's 
capacity to attract and retain young professionals and facilitate additional 
grant funding, private sector investment, job growth and economic 
activity in the State, to be matched by $16,000,000 in private and public 
contributions?" 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question 
and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square 
below the word "Yes" or "No."  The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and 
declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of 
State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature.  The Governor shall 
review the returns.  If a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of this Part, the 
Governor shall proclaim the result without delay and this Part becomes effective 30 days 
after the date of the proclamation. 
The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all 
ballots, returns and copies of this Part necessary to carry out the purposes of this 
referendum. 
PART B 
Sec. B-1.  Establishment of center for marine economy.  The Department of 
Economic and Community Development shall oversee the disbursement of bond proceeds 
and matching funds authorized pursuant to Part A in accordance with this section. 
The department shall support the establishment of the Maine Center for the Marine 
Economy, referred to in this Part as "the center," to be coordinated and managed by the 
University of New England in partnership with public sector and private sector marine 
research centers and marine industries throughout the State, including but not limited to 
the Southern Maine Community College; the University of Maine at Machias, Downeast 
Institute of Applied Marine Research and Education; and the Cobscook Community 
Learning Center, to: 
1.  Support business and commercial enterprises creating jobs in the State's marine 
economy; 
2.  Support the expansion of the seafood economy by testing and integrating new 
methods of managing and marketing fisheries and seafood industries with sustainable 
aquaculture; and 
3.  Facilitate the growth of business and commercial enterprises that create jobs in the 
State's marine economy and related industries and interests through capital investments in 
a shared marine research and resource vessel, infrastructure and equipment to support the 
vessel and its statewide operations, expanded facilities statewide to support collaboration 
and commercialization and infrastructure and equipment for experimental sea- and land-
based sustainable aquaculture sites located around the State. 
Sec. B-2.  Contingent effective date.  This Part takes effect only if the General 
Fund bond issue proposed in Part A is approved by the voters of the State. 
SUMMARY 
This bill authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $30,000,000, to be 
matched by $31,000,000 in other funds, to: 
1.  Establish a Maine center for marine economy coordinated and managed by the 
University of New England in partnership with public sector and private sector marine 
research centers and marine industries throughout the State, including but not limited to 
the Southern Maine Community College; the University of Maine at Machias, Downeast 
Institute of Applied Marine Research and Education; and the Cobscook Community 
Learning Center, to facilitate the growth of business and commercial enterprises that 
create jobs in Maine’s marine economy and related industries and interests through 
capital investments in a shared marine research and resource vessel; infrastructure and 
equipment to support the vessel and its statewide operations; expanded facilities 
statewide to support collaboration and commercialization; and infrastructure and 
equipment for experimental sea- and land-based sustainable aquaculture sites located 
around the State; and 
2. Establish at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor a center for biometric analysis 
using state-of-the-art technologies to expand the State's research capabilities in the area of 
medical analytics, make the State a global resource for precision medicine, improve the 
State's capacity to attract and retain young professionals and facilitate additional grant 
funding, private sector investment, job growth and economic activity in the State.