Resolve, To Encourage Relocation of Working Professionals
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0813
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: CHENETTE, FECTEAU, MILLETT, O'NEIL

Legislative Document
No. 813
S.P. 249
In Senate, February 14, 2019
Resolve, To Encourage Relocation of Working Professionals
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 CHENETTE of York.
Cosponsored by Representative FECTEAU of Biddeford and
Senator: MILLETT of Cumberland, Representative: O'NEIL of Saco.
Sec. 1.  Department of Economic and Community Development directed 
to design and implement a one-year pilot program. Resolved:  That the 
Department of Economic and Community Development shall design and implement a 
one-year pilot program to encourage remote workers located outside of the State to 
relocate to Maine. The pilot program, known as the New Remote Worker Grant Program 
and referred to in this resolve as "the program," begins January 1, 2020 and operates 
through December 31, 2020. The department shall develop procedures for implementing 
the program, including:
1.  Identifying workers who are full-time employees of a business with its location or 
primary place of business outside Maine who become full-time residents of Maine on or 
after January 1, 2020 and who perform the majority of employment duties remotely from 
a home office or a coworking space located in Maine;
2.  Certifying the actual costs the workers identified in subsection 1 incur that are 
necessary for relocation to Maine or for the performance of employment duties, including 
one or more of the following: computer software and hardware, broadband access or 
upgrade and membership in a coworking or similar workspace;
3.  Awarding grants under the program for the reimbursement of the certified costs of 
workers under subsection 2 on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the availability 
of funding, not to exceed $125,000 total funds or $2,500 per individual;
4.  Promoting awareness of the program; and
5.  Adopting measurable goals, performance measures and an audit strategy to assess 
the use and performance of the program.
Sec. 2.  Report. Resolved:  That the Department of Economic and Community 
Development shall report its findings and recommendations for continuation of the pilot 
program under section 1 no later than February 1, 2021 to the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over innovation, development, economic advancement 
and business matters and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over labor and housing matters. Each joint standing committee may report out 
a bill based on the report to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Department of Economic and Community Development to 
design and implement a one-year pilot program to encourage remote workers to relocate 
to Maine. The pilot program, the New Remote Worker Grant Program, will award grants 
of up to $2,500 per qualifying individual and up to $125,000 in total funds for qualifying 
expenses. The resolve directs the department to report back to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over innovation, development, economic 
advancement and business matters and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over labor and housing matters and gives these committees authority 
to report out legislation based on the department's report.