Resolve, To Establish the Maine Spaceport Complex Leadership Council
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 2092
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: BELLOWS, HUBBELL, CARPENTER, POULIOT, BABINE, BICKFORD, DAUGHTRY, FECTEAU, HIGGINS, STEWART

Legislative Document
No. 2092
S.P. 743
In Senate, February 4, 2020
Resolve, To Establish the Maine Spaceport Complex Leadership 
Council
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and 
Business suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BELLOWS of Kennebec.
Cosponsored by Representative HUBBELL of Bar Harbor and
Senators: CARPENTER of Aroostook, POULIOT of Kennebec, Representatives: BABINE of 
Scarborough, BICKFORD of Auburn, DAUGHTRY of Brunswick, FECTEAU of Augusta, 
HIGGINS of Dover-Foxcroft, STEWART of Presque Isle.
Sec. 1.  Maine Spaceport Complex Leadership Council established.  
Resolved:  That the Maine Spaceport Complex Leadership Council, referred to in this 
resolve as "the council," is established as a public-private partnership to review the 
feasibility of establishing a complex in this State that includes a Space Data and 
Advanced Analytics Center of Excellence, a New Space Innovation Hub and Launch 
Sites and services for increasing the State's participation in the global market for 
emerging nanosatellite and aerospace technology.
For the purposes of this resolve, "Space Data and Advanced Analytics Center of 
Excellence" means a state-of-the-art computer center with networks equipped to import 
and downlink, store, cleanse, manage and analyze satellite data in concert with terrestrial 
data for the purposes of solving business and public issues in innovative ways and 
creating new data products and services.
For the purposes of this resolve, "New Space Innovation Hub and Launch Sites" 
means a facility to support mission control for managing satellite flights from the point of 
launch until the end of the satellite mission; a hub for new business incubation and 
acceleration; a new space industry meeting place; a research and development center for 
industrial, academic and scientific inquiry; a facility for satellite fabrication and 
integration; and a learning center for children from kindergarten to grade 12.
Sec. 2.  Membership.  Resolved:  That the council includes the following 
individuals:
1.  The following voting members:
A.  Two members of the Senate, including a member from each of the 2 parties 
holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature, appointed by the President of 
the Senate;
B.  Two members of the House of Representatives, including a member from each of 
the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House;
C.  Two members of the public appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:
(1)  A representative of an in-state manufacturing business with 25 or more 
employees that is involved in the aerospace industry; and
(2)  A representative of an in-state private foundation;
D.  Two members of the public appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows:
(1)  A representative of an in-state manufacturing business with fewer than 25 
employees that is involved in the aerospace industry; and
(2)  A representative of a college or university in the State with expertise in 
aerospace; and
E.  Two members of the public appointed by the Governor as follows:
(1)  A representative of an entity directly funded by the National Space Grant 
College and Fellowship Program; and
(2)  A representative of an in-state nonprofit research organization that uses 
satellite-based data.
In making appointments of members of the public, the appointing authorities shall make 
every effort to appoint persons from generally recognized organizations representing the 
entities mentioned in paragraphs C, D and E; and
2.  The following individuals, or their designees, who serve as ex officio nonvoting 
members:
A.  The Director of the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future;
B.  The president of the Maine Technology Institute;
C.  The Chancellor of the University of Maine System;
D.  The President of the Maine Community College System;
E.  The executive director of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority;
F.  The executive director of the Loring Development Authority of Maine;
G.  The Commissioner of Transportation; and
H.  The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development.
The first-named Senate member and the first-named House of Representatives 
member are cochairs of the council.  The council may appoint other officers as necessary.
Sec. 3.  Appointments; convening of council.  Resolved:  That the appointing 
authorities shall make appointments to the council within 30 days of 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 appointments of 
all members, the cochairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the council.  If 30 
days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments 
have been made, the cochairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may 
grant authority for the council to meet and conduct its business.  A meeting of the council 
under this section is subject to the availability of funding as described in section 7.
Sec. 4.  Strategic plan.  Resolved:  That the council shall create a strategic plan 
for a spaceport complex in the State that increases the State's participation in the global 
market for emerging nanosatellite and aerospace technology and that must include at least 
the following:
1.  Clear goals and targets for the spaceport complex that align with the strategic 
economic plan as described in Public Law 2019, chapter 343, Part RRRR, section 1 
including but not limited to educational and research and development goals and 
strategies;
2.  A review of the State's current aerospace industry and a gap analysis;
3.  Identification of a spaceport complex site that includes appropriate launch sites 
that can secure United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation 
Administration approval;
4.  Short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies to achieve the goals of the 
spaceport complex; and
5.  Financial analyses, including of costs for construction and operation, and 
identification of funding sources.
Sec. 5.  Costs.  Resolved:  That, in considering potential costs for the spaceport 
complex in accordance with the strategic plan under section 4, the council shall consider 
costs related to the following:
1.  The acquisition, construction, equipping, maintenance and operation of the 
spaceport complex and related facilities;
2.  All lands, properties, rights, easements and franchises acquired;
3.  All machinery and equipment and finance charges, including interest prior to and 
during construction and for one year after completion of construction; and
4.  Engineering, architectural and fiscal agents; legal expenses; plans and 
specifications; other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or 
practicability of the spaceport complex; administrative expenses; and other such expenses 
as may be necessary.
The council shall identify and secure commitments for funding for the spaceport 
complex.
Sec. 6.  Compensation. Resolved: That legislative members are entitled to 
receive the legislative per diem and expenses for their attendance at authorized meetings 
of the council. Other members are entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary 
expenses if they are not otherwise reimbursed by their employers or others whom they 
represent.
Sec. 7.  Staff; funding.  Resolved:  That the council shall contract with a Maine-
based entity directly funded by the National Space Grant College and Fellowship 
Program for staff support and for securing outside funds for all staff support costs. The 
contracted entity shall administer all funds on behalf of the council.  The council may 
seek funding to fully fund the costs of the council and to develop the strategic plan under 
section 4.  If sufficient funds have not been received within 60 days after the effective 
date of this resolve, no meetings are authorized and no expenses of any kind may be 
incurred or reimbursed.
Sec. 8.  Submission of strategic plan.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 
31, 2021, the council shall submit its strategic plan developed pursuant to section 4 to the 
Governor and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
economic development matters.  The council shall include with the strategic plan 
information regarding any financial commitments from potential users and tenants of the 
spaceport complex.  The council shall make the strategic plan accessible to the public on 
a publicly accessible website maintained by the Department of Economic and 
Community Development.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Maine Spaceport Complex Leadership Council, a public-
private partnership of private space flight commercial interests and local, state and federal 
government and academic entities, to lead the development and implementation of a 
spaceport complex in the State and to orchestrate engagement with external stakeholders 
and investors.  The resolve requires the council to create a strategic plan and, by 
December 31, 2021, to present the plan to the Governor and to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over economic development matters.