An Act To Create the Put ME To Work Program
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1373
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: EVES, CUSHING, FARRIN, HERBIG, PETERSON, SAUCIER, SHERMAN, STANLEY, PATRICK, VOLK
Amends: 20-A MRSA §12730, 26 MRSA §1166

Legislative Document 
No. 1373 
H.P. 932 
House of Representatives, April 28, 2015 
An Act To Create the Put ME To Work Program 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Speaker EVES of North Berwick. 
Cosponsored by Senator CUSHING of Penobscot and 
Representatives: FARRIN of Norridgewock, HERBIG of Belfast, PETERSON of Rumford, 
SAUCIER of Presque Isle, SHERMAN of Hodgdon, STANLEY of Medway, Senators: 
PATRICK of Oxford, VOLK of Cumberland. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
PART A 
Sec. A-1.  20-A MRSA §12730 is enacted to read: 
§12730.  Put ME to Work Program 
1.  Establishment; purpose.  The Put ME to Work Program, referred to in this 
section as "the program," is established within the centers.  The program must facilitate 
the establishment of job training programs at postsecondary institutions of higher 
education in this State by working with private businesses and postsecondary institutions 
of higher education. 
2.  Job training programs; criteria.  The job training programs in the program must 
provide training to prepare workers for jobs in high-demand fields.  The centers shall 
work with private businesses to determine the demand for jobs and the skills needed for 
those jobs and with postsecondary institutions of higher education to determine the ability 
of those institutions to provide the appropriate education and training, including teaching 
faculty and any necessary infrastructure.  A qualified job training program must meet the 
following criteria: 
A.  Support of at least 50% of the start-up costs for the job training program must be 
provided by a business or group of businesses that chooses to participate in a job 
training program.  The support may be provided through funds or through an in-kind 
contribution, such as equipment or teaching faculty; 
B.  The job training program must provide education or training for employment in a 
trade or industry with a significant demand for skilled labor either statewide or in a 
region that has been identified by the Center for Workforce Research and Information 
within the Department of Labor as providing employment for high-compensation 
jobs; and 
C.  A person who successfully completes the job training program must be awarded a 
certificate, degree or similar credential that is universally recognized by the trade or 
industry that meets the requirements of paragraph B in which the person intends to 
seek employment. 
3.  Financial aid; funding.  The centers shall make available needs-based 
scholarships, grants and other financial aid to persons participating in a qualified job 
training program.  The centers may accept funding from private businesses and other 
interests for this purpose. 
4.  Rules.  The centers shall adopt routine technical rules, as described in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A, to implement the provisions of this section. 
Sec. A-2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE 
Community College System - Maine Quality Centers 0804 
Initiative: Provides funds for needs-based tuition assistance and grants for persons 
participating in the Put ME to Work Program. 
Community College System - Maine Quality Centers 0804 
Initiative: Provides funds to be used to match funding or in-kind contributions by 
businesses participating in the Put ME to Work Program. 
Sec. A-3.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 
Industry Partnership Assistance Collaborative N186 
Initiative: Provides funds for one Public Service Coordinator position and related All 
Other costs needed to carry out the responsibilities associated with the Industry 
Partnership Assistance Collaborative. 
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$250,000
$250,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$250,000
$250,000
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$650,000
$650,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$650,000
$650,000
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF 
TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
2015-16
2016-17
GENERAL FUND 
$900,000
$900,000
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
$900,000
$900,000
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
1.000
1.000
Personal Services 
$75,978
$79,739
All Other 
$24,022
$20,261
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$100,000
$100,000
PART B 
Sec. B-1.  26 MRSA §1166, sub-§6-A is enacted to read: 
6-A.  Voluntary contributions.  In addition to the fund contributions required 
pursuant to subsection 5, an employer may make a voluntary contribution to the fund.  
These contributions must be segregated and used exclusively by the commissioner for the 
Competitive Skills Scholarship Program established in section 2033 and for the costs of 
administering the fund. 
SUMMARY 
This bill assists Maine residents to obtain highly skilled, high-demand, livable-wage 
jobs by creating a new jobs training program and improving and funding existing jobs 
training programs. 
1.  Part A establishes the Put ME to Work Program in the Maine Quality Centers to 
facilitate the establishment of job training programs at postsecondary institutions of 
higher education in this State by working with private businesses and postsecondary 
institutions of higher education to provide training to prepare workers for jobs in high-
demand fields.  In order to participate in the program, a business or group of businesses is 
required to provide at least 50% of the cost of the program, which may be through in-kind 
contributions.  Part A provides $250,000 for needs-based tuition assistance, scholarships 
and grants for students in the program and $650,000 to match funding or in-kind 
contributions by businesses participating in the program. 
Part A also provides $100,000 to the Industry Partnership Assistance Collaborative to 
fund a position and associated costs within the collaborative. 
2.  Part B allows employers to make voluntary donations to the Competitive Skills 
Scholarship Fund.  These donations would be in addition to the required employer 
contributions and would be used for the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program.