Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Create a Statewide Economic Development Plan
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1393
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: TEPLER, LIBBY, FECTEAU, GROHMAN, HERBIG, MARTIN, MASTRACCIO, BREEN, ROSEN

Legislative Document
No. 1393
H.P. 967
House of Representatives, April 11, 2017
Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Create a Statewide 
Economic Development Plan
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative TEPLER of Topsham.
Cosponsored by Senator LIBBY of Androscoggin and
Representatives: FECTEAU of Biddeford, GROHMAN of Biddeford, HERBIG of Belfast, 
MARTIN of Eagle Lake, MASTRACCIO of Sanford, Senators: BREEN of Cumberland, 
ROSEN of Hancock.
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this resolve establishes the Commission To Create a Statewide Economic 
Development Plan to study a number of economic development issues and create a 
strategic, regionally focused economic development plan; and 
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that 
the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next 
legislative session; 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 
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the Commission To Create a Statewide Economic Development Plan, referred to in 
this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That the commission consists of 
members appointed as follows: 
1.  Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including 
members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature; 
2.  Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats 
in the Legislature; 
3.  The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the chancellor's designee; 
4.  The President of the Maine Community College System or the president's 
designee; 
5.  An individual representing a private research institution appointed by the Speaker 
of the House; 
6.  An individual representing a private organization focused on promoting economic 
growth in the State appointed by the President of the Senate; 
7.  The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or the 
commissioner's designee; 
8.  The State Economist or the State Economist's designee; 
9.  The chair of the Maine Economic Growth Council or the chair's designee; 
10.  A representative of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
11.  A representative of a regional chamber of commerce appointed by the Speaker of 
the House; 
12.  The Commissioner of Transportation or the commissioner's designee; 
13.  Three members representing business or professional organizations, 2 of whom 
may be representatives of business or professional enterprises based outside of the State 
but that have or have had business interests in the State and that may include foreign 
nationals, appointed by the President of the Senate; and 
14.  Three members representing business or professional enterprises, each based in a 
separate region of the State, who may not be in the same industry, including at least one 
representing a business with fewer than 25 employees, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House; and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the first-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the 
commission; and be it further 
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission.  Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve.  The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed.  After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission.  If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority 
for the commission to meet and conduct its business; and be it further 
Sec. 5.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the commission shall create a strategic, regionally 
focused economic development plan for the State, including: 
1.  An inventory and analysis of the State's competitive advantages and an inventory 
and analysis of factors that tend to retard economic development in the State; 
2.  Identification and analysis of state, national and international economic trends 
affecting the State's economic development; 
3.  Development of strategies for the promotion of business formation, expansion, 
recruitment and retention through aggressive marketing, international development and 
export assistance and any other strategies identified as advantageous that lead to more 
and better jobs and higher wages for all geographic regions and disadvantaged 
communities and populations of the State, including rural areas; 
4.  Development of policies and programs to further economic diversity in the State, 
its regions and their associated industries; 
5.  Stimulation of economic development and job creation in rural areas and smaller 
economic regions of the State, including strategies for rural marketing and the 
development of infrastructure, both physical and electronic, in rural areas; 
6.  Promotion of the successful long-term economic development of the State with 
increased emphasis in market research and information; 
7.  Plans for the generation of foreign investment in the State that creates jobs paying 
above-average wages and that results in reverse investment in the State, including 
programs that establish viable foreign markets, assist in meeting the financing 
requirements of export-ready firms, broaden opportunities for international joint-venture 
relationships, use the resources of academic and other institutions, coordinate trade 
assistance and facilitation services and facilitate availability of and access to education 
and training programs that ensure that requisite skills and competencies necessary to 
compete successfully in the global marketplace are taught; 
8.  Identification of business sectors that are of current or future importance to the 
State's economy and to the State's global business image and development of specific 
strategies to promote the development of these sectors; 
9.  Strategies for talent development necessary to encourage economic development 
growth in the State, taking into account factors such as the State's talent supply chain, 
education and training opportunities and available workforce; and 
10.  Identification of and a strategy for investing in research and development for 
innovation in manufacturing as well as other types of business development; and be it 
further 
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Department of Economic and 
Community Development shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; 
and be it further 
Sec. 7.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than January 15, 2018, the commission 
shall submit a preliminary report, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the 
Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development in 
the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.  No later than October 1, 2018, the 
commission shall submit a final report that includes its findings and recommendations, 
which may include suggested legislation to implement the plan under section 5 of this 
resolve and to establish a permanent commission to monitor the progress of the plan, for 
presentation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
economic development matters in the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Commission To Develop a Statewide Economic 
Development Plan.