An Act Establishing the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1830
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: MARTIN, CLAXTON

Legislative Document
No. 1830
H.P. 1301
House of Representatives, June 3, 2019
An Act Establishing the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MARTIN of Sinclair.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL)
Cosponsored by Senator CLAXTON of Androscoggin.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA c. 310, as amended, is repealed.
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA c. 310-A is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 310-A
OFFICE OF POLICY INNOVATION AND THE FUTURE 
§3121.  Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings.
1.  Director.  "Director" means the Director of the Office of Policy Innovation and 
the Future appointed pursuant to section 3123.
2.  Office.  "Office" means the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future established 
by section 3122.
§3122.  Office of Policy Innovation and the Future; establishment; purposes
The Office of Policy Innovation and the Future is established in the Executive 
Department to: support the creation of a coherent system of policy planning and 
coordinated implementation as one function and responsibility of the executive branch; 
serve the Governor as a research, advisory, consultative, coordinating and administrative 
agency; and advance policies that support a sustainable future for the State's people, 
communities, natural resources, physical infrastructure, industries, businesses and 
institutions by:
1.  Assistance; data; policy.  Providing technical assistance and data to the Governor 
by undertaking special studies and plans as directed and preparing policy;
2.  Coordination.  Facilitating general intergovernmental coordination;
3.  Innovation.  Supporting state efforts to encourage innovation and policy that 
facilitate innovation in the public and private sectors;
4.  Technology.  Supporting improved technology use for government programs and 
advancing responsible state data policies;
5.  Resources.  Supporting the development of the State's economy and energy 
resources with the conservation of its natural resources; and
6.  Analysis.  Conducting ongoing demographic, economic, workforce and other 
needed analyses to support state policy makers.
§3123.  Director
1.  Appointment; salary; qualifications.  The Director of the Office of Policy 
Innovation and the Future is appointed by the Governor, serves at the pleasure of the 
Governor and is paid a salary fixed by the Governor.  The director must be qualified by 
education, training and experience in policy planning or public administration.
2.  Duties.  The director shall exercise the powers of the office and is responsible for 
the execution of the duties of the office. The director shall:
A.  Appoint and remove the staff of the office and prescribe the duties of the staff as 
necessary to implement the purposes of this chapter.
(1)  The director is authorized to hire professional personnel competent by 
education, training and experience in the fields of economics and economic 
development, local and regional planning, statistics, human resources, natural 
resources, climate science, energy, transportation, finance, taxation, health, 
education and general science and policy making.
(2)  The director is authorized to employ office assistance as required and 
authorized by the budget;
B.  Supervise and administer the affairs of the office and advise the Governor and 
other officials of State Government on matters of statewide policy planning, and 
consult with them about policy planning and development matters and projects that 
affect the future of the State and its people;
C.  At the request of the Governor, act for the State in the initiation of or participation 
in any multi-governmental agency program related to the purposes of this chapter;
D.  At the request of the Governor, prepare and submit a budget for the office; and
E.  At the request of the Governor, report on the activities of the office and, after 
consultation with and approval by the Governor, submit such recommendations for 
legislative action as are determined necessary to further the purposes of this chapter.
Any department, agency, authority, board, commission or other instrumentality of the 
State or other governmental unit may assist in the gathering of information, reports and 
data that relate to state policy planning and development. Upon request by the director, 
the Governor may assign to the office on a temporary basis personnel from any other 
state department or agency needed for a project assigned to the office.
§3124.  Office
1.  Duties.  The office shall:
A.  Provide technical assistance to the Governor in identifying intermediate and long-
range goals and policies for the State and appropriate measures to achieve these 
goals;
B.  Conduct continuing analysis of the economy, human resources, natural resources 
and energy resources of the State, as well as other issues as directed by the Governor; 
collect and collate all data and statistics relating to these matters; and assist the 
Governor and state departments in formulating policies and programs to achieve 
identified goals;
C.  Participate with other states or their subdivisions in interstate policy planning and 
provide guidance to other state or local governments to assist their policy planning;
D.  Assist the State in applying for, using and leveraging federal and private grant-
making sources on issues of importance to the State; and
E.  Act as a coordinating agency among departments and agencies of State 
Government on issues requiring multiple departments or agencies to work together to 
develop strategies to respond to state challenges.
2.  Contracts; agreements; funding.  The office may:
A.  With the consent of the Governor, employ expert and professional consultants and 
contract for services as the director determines necessary, within the limits of the 
funds provided and consistent with the powers and duties of the office;
B.  Enter into agreements with the Federal Government and other agencies and 
organizations as will promote the objectives of this chapter; and
C.  Accept funds from the Federal Government or from any individual, foundation or 
corporation and expend these funds for purposes consistent with this chapter.
Sec. 3.  Construction. Nothing in this Act or in the establishment of the Office of 
Policy Innovation and the Future under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 
310-A may be construed to restrict, limit or alter any policy or planning authority 
conferred by law to any state department or agency, director of a state department or 
agency, instrumentality of the State, regional planning agency or municipality, except as 
provided in this chapter.
Sec. 4.  Maine Revised Statutes amended; revision clause.    Wherever in the 
Maine Revised Statutes the words "Governor's Office of Policy and Management" appear 
or reference is made to that entity or those words, those words are amended to read or 
mean, as appropriate, "Office of Policy Innovation and the Future" and the Revisor of 
Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or republishing the 
statutes.
SUMMARY
This bill eliminates the Governor’s Office of Policy and Management and establishes 
the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future to support the creation of a coherent 
system of policy planning and coordinated implementation as one function and 
responsibility of the executive branch of State Government, serve as a research, advisory, 
consultative, coordinating and administrative agency and advance policies that support a 
sustainable future for Maine's people, communities, natural resources, physical 
infrastructure, industries, businesses and institutions.