Resolve, Directing the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development To Establish a Blockchain Technology Working Group
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0909
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: WADSWORTH

Legislative Document
No. 909
H.P. 673
House of Representatives, February 19, 2019
Resolve, Directing the Commissioner of Economic and Community 
Development To Establish a Blockchain Technology Working 
Group
Reference to the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and 
Business suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative WADSWORTH of Hiram.
Sec. 1.  Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to 
establish a blockchain technology working group.  Resolved:  That the 
Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, referred to in this resolve as 
"the commissioner," shall establish a working group, referred to in this resolve as "the 
group," to develop a master plan for fostering the expansion of the blockchain technology 
industry in the State and recommend policies and investments to make the State a leader 
in blockchain technology. For purposes of this resolve, "blockchain technology" means a 
list of digital records linked together using cryptography that is resistant to modification 
of the data in the records, creating an open, distributed ledger that records a transaction 
between 2 or more parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent manner.
Sec. 2.  Membership.  Resolved:  That the commissioner shall appoint to the 
group at least 5 members who have knowledge and experience in blockchain technology 
or represent an industry that could benefit from blockchain technology and at least 2 
members representing a postsecondary educational institution in the State.  The 
commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall serve as an ex officio member of the 
group.  All appointments must be made within 30 days of the effective date of this 
resolve. The members of the group shall select a chair from the group's membership. 
Members of the group serve without compensation. The Department of Economic and 
Community Development shall provide administrative support to the group. The group 
shall disband after completing its duties under section 3.
Sec. 3.  Meetings; duties. Resolved:  That the chair shall schedule the first 
meeting of the group within 30 days of the date of the final appointment to the group. The 
group shall meet at other times the chair determines necessary to perform and complete 
the duties of the group. The group shall develop a master plan that:
1.  Identifies the economic growth and development opportunities presented by 
blockchain technology;
2.  Assesses existing blockchain technology in the State;
3.  Reviews workforce needs and academic programs required to build blockchain 
technology expertise across all relevant industries; and
4.  Makes recommendations of policies and investments that will help promote 
innovation and economic growth by reducing barriers to and expediting the expansion of 
the State's blockchain technology industry.
Upon completion of the master plan, the group shall submit the master plan to the 
commissioner for review and any changes to the plan that the commissioner determines 
appropriate.
Sec. 4.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 2, 2020, the 
commissioner shall submit a report including the master plan described under section 3 
and any recommended legislation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over innovation, development, economic advancement and business 
matters.  The committee may report out legislation concerning the master plan to the First 
Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to 
establish a working group to develop a master plan for fostering the expansion of the 
blockchain technology industry in the State and recommend policies and investments to 
make the State a leader in blockchain technology.  Blockchain technology, used in the 
creation of Bitcoin and other digital currencies, consists of a list of digital records linked 
together using cryptography that is resistant to modification of the data in the records, 
creating an open, distributed ledger that records a transaction between 2 or more parties 
efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent manner.  This resolve directs the 
commissioner to submit the master plan to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over innovation, development, economic advancement and business 
matters by December 2, 2020 and authorizes the committee to report out legislation to the