An Act To Establish and Fund the Maine Climate Corps Program Pursuant to Recommendations in the Report Required by Resolve 2021, Chapter 25
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1974
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Amends: 5 MRSA §7501, 5 MRSA §7503, 5 MRSA §7507, 26 MRSA §1043

Legislative Document
No. 1974
S.P. 706
In Senate, February 10, 2022
An Act To Establish and Fund the Maine Climate Corps Program 
Pursuant to Recommendations in the Report Required by Resolve 
2021, Chapter 25
Reported by Senator BRENNER of Cumberland for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Environment and Natural Resources pursuant to Joint Rule 353.
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed pursuant to Joint Rule 218.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §7501, as amended by PL 1995, c. 625, Pt. A, §13, is further 
amended to read:
§7501.  Commission established
There is established the Maine Commission for Community Service, referred to in this 
chapter as "the "commission," to foster the State's ethic of community service; encourage 
community service and volunteerism as a means of meeting critical human, environmental, 
educational and public safety needs throughout the State; address climate challenges 
through community service and volunteerism; serve as the State's liaison regarding national 
and community service and volunteer activities; foster collaboration among service 
agencies; and receive gifts and grants, implement statewide service programs and make 
subgrants to state and local entities in accordance with the National and Community 
Service Trust Act of 1993, 42 United States Code, Sections 12501 to 12682 (1994).
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §7503, sub-§11, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 54, §1, is amended to 
read:
11.  Coordination.  Foster Coordinate and foster collaboration among state agencies, 
colleges, universities, municipalities, federal agencies and volunteer service programs, 
including, but not limited to, coordination of and collaboration regarding the activities of 
the Maine Climate Corps Program established pursuant to section 7507 and related national 
and other climate-related service programs;
Sec. 3.  5 MRSA §7507 is enacted to read:
§7507.  Maine Climate Corps Program
The Maine Climate Corps Program, referred to in this section as “the program,” is 
established within the commission to provide grants, technical assistance and training to 
community service corps programs with the mission of responding to the impacts of climate 
change. Eligible community service corps programs under the program must be designed 
to:
1.  Direct service projects.  Conduct evidence-based direct service projects developed 
through community collaboration, including collaboration with indigenous communities, 
that address principles of equity, justice and accessibility;
2.  Climate impacts.  Address through measurable performance one or more of the 
following areas: transportation, energy, housing, the State’s coastal zone as defined under 
the United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration’s coastal zone management program, public health, land and fresh water 
preservation, community resilience and climate-related education;
3.  Disproportionately affected communities; representation.  Prioritize assistance 
to disproportionately affected communities and ensure that individuals in service positions 
represent the economic and demographic diversity of communities, including persons who 
are historically marginalized; and
4.  Additional standards.  Meet additional program standards, including, but not 
limited to, requirements to:
A.  Enroll individuals for set terms in service positions;
B.  Provide individuals in full-time service positions with stipends, health insurance, 
liability insurance and accidental death or dismemberment insurance;
C.  Provide individuals in service positions with training, education and service 
experiences that further employability or career preparation; and
D.  Meet any other standards set by the commission or nationally for similar programs.
Sec. 4.  26 MRSA §1043, sub-§11, ¶F, as amended by PL 2017, c. 117, §2, is 
further amended by amending subparagraph (31) to read:
(31)  Service performed by participants enrolled in programs or projects under the 
Maine Climate Corps Program established pursuant to Title 5, section 7507 or 
under national service laws including the federal National and Community Service 
Act of 1990, as amended, 42 United States Code, Section 12501 et seq. and the 
federal Domestic Volunteer Service Act, as amended, 42 United States Code, 
Section 4950 et seq.;
Sec. 5.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Maine Climate Corps Program - Maine Commission for Community Service N413
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to support 5 Maine Climate Corps Program leadership 
positions.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$0
$406,550
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$406,550
Maine Climate Corps Program - Maine Commission for Community Service N413
Initiative: Provides one-time funds to support 20 eligible participants of the Maine Climate 
Corps Program.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$0
$600,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$600,000
Maine Service Fellows Program Z311
Initiative: Provides one-time funds to increase the opportunities for individuals to devote a 
year of service to communities in the State.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$0
$250,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$250,000
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2021-22
2022-23
GENERAL FUND
$0
$1,256,550
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$0
$1,256,550
SUMMARY
This bill, which is reported out by the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and 
Natural Resources pursuant to Joint Rule 353, implements recommendations regarding the 
establishment and funding of the Maine Climate Corps Program made pursuant to the 
report required by Resolve 2021, chapter 25. 
The bill establishes the Maine Climate Corps Program under the Maine Commission 
for Community Service.  It also provides one-time and ongoing General Fund 
appropriations to fund the Maine Climate Corps Program and one-time General Fund 
appropriations to fund the Maine Service Fellows Program established under the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 7506.
The committee has not taken a position on the substance of the bill and by reporting 
this bill out the committee is not suggesting and does not intend to suggest that it agrees or 
disagrees with any aspect of this bill.  The committee is reporting the bill out for the sole 
purpose of obtaining a printed bill that can be referred to the committee for a public hearing 
and subsequent committee action in the normal course.