An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Build Maine's Workforce Development Capacity by Modernizing and Improving the Facilities and Infrastructure of Maine's Public Universities
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0836
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: JORGENSEN, DILL, HARVELL, HUBBELL, MARTIN, PIERCE, STEWART, BREEN, MAKER, SAVIELLO

Legislative Document
No. 836
H.P. 585
House of Representatives, March 7, 2017
An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Build Maine's 
Workforce Development Capacity by Modernizing and Improving 
the Facilities and Infrastructure of Maine's Public Universities
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative JORGENSEN of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator DILL of Penobscot and
Representatives: HARVELL of Farmington, HUBBELL of Bar Harbor, MARTIN of Eagle 
Lake, PIERCE of Falmouth, STEWART of Presque Isle, Senators: BREEN of Cumberland, 
MAKER of Washington, SAVIELLO of Franklin.
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 $75,000,000 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 for renovation and rehabilitation of existing facilities and other 
facility and infrastructure improvements at the University of Maine. 
Provides funds for renovation and rehabilitation of existing facilities and other 
facility and infrastructure improvements at the University of Maine at Augusta. 
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM 
Total 
$35,540,892
Provides funds for renovation and rehabilitation of existing facilities and other 
facility and infrastructure improvements at the University of Maine at Farmington. 
Provides funds for renovation and rehabilitation of existing facilities and other 
facility and infrastructure improvements at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. 
Provides funds for renovation and rehabilitation of existing facilities and other 
facility and infrastructure improvements at the University of Maine at Machias. 
Provides funds for renovation and rehabilitation of existing facilities and other 
facility and infrastructure improvements at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. 
Provides funds for renovation and rehabilitation of existing facilities and other 
facility and infrastructure improvements at the University of Southern Maine. 
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, 
Total 
$2,471,964
Total 
$7,723,605
Total 
$2,318,107
Total 
$2,933,534
Total 
$2,871,991
Total 
$21,139,907
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 Part.  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 $75,000,000 bond issue to build Maine's workforce 
development capacity by modernizing and improving the facilities and 
infrastructure of Maine's public universities?" 
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.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE 
Debt Service - University of Maine System 0902 
Initiative:  Provides funding to bring facilities into compliance while improving the 
safety, accessibility and general condition of the University of Maine's aging facilities 
and making investments in technology upgrades and enhancements. 
SUMMARY 
The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $75,000,000, will be used to 
build Maine's workforce development capacity by modernizing and improving the 
GENERAL FUND 
2017-18
2018-19
All Other 
$0
$2,500,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0
$2,500,000
facilities and infrastructure of Maine's public universities.  The bill also provides 
$2,500,000 in debt service beginning in fiscal year 2018-19 to make critical information 
technology investments in wireless communications and classrooms across the University 
of Maine System.