An Act To Provide Allocations for the Distribution of State Fiscal Recovery Funds
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1733
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: BREEN

Legislative Document
No. 1733
S.P. 577
In Senate, June 3, 2021
An Act To Provide Allocations for the Distribution of State Fiscal 
Recovery Funds
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BREEN of Cumberland.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL)
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, 
establishes the State Fiscal Recovery Fund; and
Whereas, the State Fiscal Recovery Fund will be used to provide funds to the State 
to respond to the public health emergency caused by coronavirus disease 2019, commonly 
referred to as COVID-19, and to its negative economic effects, including by providing 
assistance to households and small and nonprofit businesses; aid to affected industries, such 
as tourism, travel and hospitality; and assistance to workers performing essential work 
during the COVID-19 pandemic; 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 enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  Department of Administrative and Financial Services to submit 
legislation allocating state fiscal recovery funds.  The Department of Administrative 
and Financial Services shall propose a bill to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Appropriations and Financial Affairs during the First Special Session of the 130th 
Legislature that allocates funds received from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund established 
in the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2.  The legislation must 
accomplish the following goals.
1.  Immediate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.  The funding must provide 
new and renewed support for businesses in the State, particularly small businesses, to 
ensure their doors stay open and their workers are safe and on the job and the economy is 
secure in the short term.  In order to meet this goal, the legislation must:
A. Establish and provide funding for a program of grants and loan guarantees to 
businesses; 
B. Invest in heritage industries such as historic sites, buildings and museums for the 
purpose of encouraging tourism; 
C.  Lower health care costs for small businesses; 
D.  Replenish the State's account in the Unemployment Trust Fund; 
E.  Sustain new businesses and entrepreneurs; and 
F.  Encourage diversity in business ownership and management.
2.  Long-term economic growth.  Based on the recommendations of the Governor's 
Economic Recovery Committee and those in the Maine Economic Development Strategy 
2020-2029 from the Department of Economic and Community Development that call for 
robust investment in research and development, skills training and new worker attraction 
to spur new businesses and attract new residents to the State, the bill must provide funding 
to encourage long-term economic growth.  This must be accomplished by:
A.  Making strategic investments for future prosperity by stimulating innovation and 
creating and implementing a health workforce initiative, a program for clean energy 
partnerships and a domestic trade program;
B.  Expanding and strengthening the State's workforce by:
(1)  Attracting and retaining workers;
(2)  Expanding the Maine Career Advantage program;
(3)  Creating a program to welcome remote workers;
(4) Providing training for workers through career and technical education programs 
and the University of Maine System;
(5) Advancing equity in the workplace; and
(6) Connecting workers to job opportunities; and
C.  Increasing the efficiency of licensing by the State.
3.  Infrastructure revitalization.  The bill must provide funding to support systems 
that ensure residents are able to live a decent, healthy and productive life in the State, retain 
current residents and attract others to move to the State to live here, raise their families and 
contribute to the economy.  This must be accomplished in the following manner:
A.  Improving family infrastructure through:
(1) The establishment of the Maine Connectivity Authority to provide broadband 
access in the entire State;
(2) The construction of more affordable housing;
(3) Encouragement of energy efficiency; and
(4) Expanding the availability of child care and early childhood programs;
B.  Investing in transportation improvement by:
(1) Repairing the State's roads and bridges as detailed in the 2021 Capital Work 
Plan;
(2) Protecting infrastructure from climate change;
(3) Implementing a workforce transportation pilot program; and
(4) Expanding the availability of municipal and other public electric vehicle 
charging stations;
C.  Investing in outdoor recreation and marine resources by:
(1) Upgrading state parks;
(2) Improving fisheries and wildlife infrastructure; and
(3) Improving and monitoring fishing industry infrastructure;
D.  Supporting essential drinking and wastewater projects to ensure the safety of 
drinking water and repairing wastewater infrastructure; 
E.  Facilitating energy needs through grants; and
F.  Modernizing and protecting state technology through upgrades to government 
systems, including access and cybersecurity.
Sec. 2.  Report.  Upon receipt of the legislation described in section 1, the Joint 
Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs may report out a bill to the 
130th Legislature based on the legislation.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to submit 
legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs that, 
using funding from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund as established by the federal American 
Rescue Plan Act of 2021, accomplishes the following goals:
1.  Immediate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; 
2.  Long-term economic growth; and
3.  Infrastructure revitalization.  
The joint standing committee is authorized to report out a bill, based on the legislation 
submitted by the department, to the 130th Legislature.