An Act To Support Research and Development at a Marine Field Station at the University of Maine at Machias
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0209
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: GERZOFSKY, MAKER, BURNS, DIAMOND, HASKELL, MIRAMANT, BRYANT, MONAGHAN, TUELL
Amends: 10 MRSA §948

Legislative Document 
No. 209 
S.P. 78 
In Senate, February 3, 2015 
An Act To Support Research and Development at a Marine Field 
Station at the University of Maine at Machias 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator GERZOFSKY of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative MAKER of Calais and 
Senators: BURNS of Washington, DIAMOND of Cumberland, HASKELL of Cumberland, 
MIRAMANT of Knox, Representatives: BRYANT of Windham, McCREIGHT of Harpswell, 
MONAGHAN of Cape Elizabeth, TUELL of East Machias. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, nonemergency legislation passed in the First Regular Session of the 127th 
Legislature is unlikely to become effective until September of 2015; and 
Whereas, it is necessary that this Act take effect prior to the beginning of the next 
fiscal year on July 1, 2015; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA §948, sub-§1, ¶H, as amended by PL 2013, c. 225, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
H.  Apportioning a minimum percentage of the annual disbursements from the fund 
to support research and development as follows: beginning July 1, 2015, a minimum 
of 2% to the University of Maine at Machias to support a marine field station and a 
minimum of 1% to be apportioned among the University of Maine at Augusta, the 
University of Maine at Farmington, the University of Maine at Fort Kent, the 
University of Maine at Machias, the University of Maine at Presque Isle and the 
Maine Maritime Academy to support research and development as follows: 
beginning July 1, 2013 a minimum of 2.5% and beginning July 1, 2015 a minimum 
of 3%. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill changes the apportionment of the percentage of the Maine Economic 
Improvement Fund that goes to the University of Maine at Augusta, the University of 
Maine at Farmington, the University of Maine at Fort Kent, the University of Maine at 
Machias, the University of Maine at Presque Isle and the Maine Maritime Academy to 
support research and development by removing the equal apportionment to all of the 
institutions of a minimum of 3% of the fund and, beginning July 1, 2015, providing a 
minimum 2% of the fund to be disbursed to the University of Maine at Machias to 
support a marine field station and a minimum of 1% to be apportioned among the 
remainder of the institutions.