An Act To Increase Access to Workforce Development Programs for New Maine Residents
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1412
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: CHIPMAN, FECTEAU, LIBBY, DENNO, GOLDEN, HAMANN, MADIGAN, PARKER, PERRY
Amends: 22 MRSA §20

Legislative Document
No. 1412
S.P. 490
In Senate, April 11, 2017
An Act To Increase Access to Workforce Development Programs for 
New Maine Residents
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator CHIPMAN of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative FECTEAU of Biddeford and
Senator: LIBBY of Androscoggin, Representatives: DENNO of Cumberland, GOLDEN of 
Lewiston, HAMANN of South Portland, MADIGAN of Waterville, PARKER of South 
Berwick, PERRY of Calais.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §20 is enacted to read: 
§20.  Immigrant Workforce Development Fund 
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A.  "Fund" means the Immigrant Workforce Development Fund established in 
subsection 2. 
B.  "Ethnicity-based community organization" means an organization in this State 
that provides services to legal immigrants and refugees, including but not limited to: 
(1)  Helping with naturalization applications; 
(2)  Assisting with social and cultural adjustment; 
(3)  English language skills classes for adults and youth; 
(4)  Citizenship classes; 
(5)  Financial literacy classes for adults and youth; 
(6)  Parenting classes; 
(7)  Interpretation services; 
(8)  Assistance with reading documents; and 
(9)  Training and supporting adults and youth seeking employment. 
2.  Establishment.  The Immigrant Workforce Development Fund is established to 
provide competitive grants to ethnicity-based community organizations to fund programs 
and services to help legal immigrants and refugees become economically self-sufficient. 
3.  Qualification for grants.  An ethnicity-based community organization may apply 
for a grant under this section using forms and procedures determined by the 
commissioner.  The commissioner shall adopt rules for the standards, approval and 
administration of the fund, including the establishment of grant award requirements and 
specifications and procedures for the application and distribution of available funds.  
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive rules as defined by Title 
5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Initiative:  Provides funding for the Immigrant Workforce Development Fund to provide 
services to legal immigrants and refugees. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes and funds the Immigrant Workforce Development Fund, which 
provides competitive grants to ethnicity-based community organizations to fund 
programs and services to help legal immigrants and refugees become economically 
self-sufficient. 
GENERAL FUND 
2017-18
2018-19
All Other 
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$5,000,000
$5,000,000