An Act to Create Equity in the State's Cannabis Industry
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1517
Committee Amendment CA_A_H979 (House)
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I, 28-B MRSA §1101

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"/\" to H.P. 972, L.D. 1517, "An Act to Create 
Equity in the State's Cannabis Industry" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act to Establish the Social Equity Program' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'PART A 
Sec. A-1. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§6-K is enacted to read: 
6-K. 
Economic 
Development 
Sec, A-2. 
Social Equity Program Adviso1y 
Committee 
MRSA c. 395 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER395 
Not Authorized 
SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM 
§13301. Social equity program established 
5MRSA 
§13302 
In accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the Department of Economic and 
Community Development, referred to in this chapter as 
11the department,
shall establish 
and administer a social equity program, referred to in this chapte1· as "the program," to 
increase workforce development programs and provide suppo1t to individuals who are 
members of impacted communities and businesses that are owned by members of impacted 
communities. For purposes of this chapter, "impacted community" means a racial, ethnic 
or tribal population that has experienced incarceration at rates disproportionate to the racial, 
ethnic or tribal population's rate of criminality staiting in or about the year 1971 and as a 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
?,.,OS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"/><," to H.P. 972, L.D. 1517 
result the racial, ethnic or tribal population has experienced direct or indirect discrimination 
in access to housing, employment and education. The department may employ consultants, 
contract for services or enter into agreements with private and public entities, such as other 
state agencies, as necessa1y for the establishment and implementation of the program as 
long as costs associated with the program do not exceed $300,000 per biennium. 
§13302. Social Equity Program Advisory Committee 
The Social Equity Program Adviso1y Committee, established by section 12004-I, 
subsection 6-K and referred to in this chapter as "the advisory committee," serves to advise 
the department on the development and implementation of the program. The adviso1y 
committee has 5 members who are members of impacted communities. Two members of 
the adviso1y committee are appointed by the President of the Senate and 3 members are 
appointed by the Speaker of the House. The first-named member appointed by the Speaker 
of the House is the chair of the advisory committee. The Commissioner of Economic and 
Community Development, or the commissioner's designee, shall convene the adviso1y 
committee as necessa1y to cany out its advisory duties. 
§13303. Report 
By December 15, 2026, and biennially thereafter, the department shall file a repo1t with 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over economic and 
community development matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over cannabis matters detailing the components of the program, the 
progress and impact of the program and its components and the activities of the adviso1y 
committee. Each joint standing committee may repo1t out legislation in the regular or 
special session of the Legislature in which the repo1t was filed. 
Sec. A-3. 28-B MRSA §1101, sub-§2, 1C-1 is enacted to read: 
C-1. Money credited to the fund may be expended by the depa1tment or transfened by 
the department to other state agencies to fund the social equity program established in 
Title 5, chapter 395. 
Sec. A-4. 28-B MRSA §1101, sub-§2, ~' as enacted by PL 2023, c. 444, §1, is 
amended to read: 
D. Any funds remaining in the fund after expenditures made in accordance with 
paragraphs A to G C-1 must be used to fund: 
(1) The cost of the tax deductions for business expenses related to carrying on a 
business as a cannabis establishment or a testing facility provided pursuant to Title 
36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph PP and Title 36, section 5200-A, 
subsection 2, paragraph BB. By June 1st annually, the State Tax Assessor shall 
determine the cost of those deductions during the prior calendar year and rep01t 
that amount to the State Controller, who shall transfer that amount from the 
remaining fui1ds in the fund to the General Fund; and 
(2) The cost of the position in the Bureau of Revenue Services within the 
depa1tment to administer the tax deductions provided pursuant to Title 36, section 
5122, subsection 2, paragraph PP and Title 36, section 5200-A, subsection 2, 
paragraph BB. By June 1st annually, the commissioner shall determine the cost of 
the position in the bureau to administer those deductions during the prior calendar 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~os 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 972, L.D. 1517 
year and report that amount to the State Controller, who shall transfer that amount 
from the remaining funds in the fund to the General Fund. 
PARTB 
Sec. B-1. Department of Labor; apprenticeship navigator. The Department 
of Labor shall establish a 2-year apprenticeship navigator position with the responsibility 
of increasing access to workforce development oppo1tunities fo1· impacted communities, 
including, but not limited to, apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs. For purposes 
of this Patt, "impacted community" means a racial, ethnic or tribal population that has 
experienced incarceration at rates dispropo1tionate to the racial, ethnic or tribal population1s 
rate of criminality starting in or about the year 1971 and as a result the racial, ethnic or 
tribal population has experienced direct or indirect discrimination in access to housing, 
employment and education. 
Sec. B-2. Department of Economic and Community Development; business 
support services; seed funds. 
The Depa1tment of Economic and Community 
Development shall increase access to business suppo1t services to impacted communities 
by: 
1. Providing outreach to impacted communities to suppo1t business development by 
and business success of members of impacted communities; 
2. Providing technical assistance to suppo1t business development by and business 
success of members of impacted communities; 
3. Providing funds to members of impacted communities sta1ting, maintaining or 
expanding a business; and 
4. Providing education and counseling about available tax credits to members of 
impacted communities. 
Sec. B-3. Cannabis business advocate. The Commissioner of Administrative and 
Financial Services shall hire a cannabis business advocate as an employee of the 
Department of Administrative and Financial Services for a period of up to 2 years. The 
cannabis business advocate may be physically located within or near the office of cannabis 
policy, referred to in this section as "the office," but is not an employee of the office. The 
duties of the cannabis business advocate include: 
1. Assisting licensees under the Cannabis Legalization Act and registrants under the 
Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act, referred to in this section collectively as 
11pa1ticipants," in navigating the regulatmy process and resolving problems with the office; 
2. Identifying areas in which participants have problems in dealings with the office; 
3. Receiving complaints from pa1ticipants, mediating conflicts between patticipants 
and the office and, when appropriate, making recommendations to the director of the office 
with respect to these complaints. Within 3 months of receiving recommendations, the 
director of the office shall provide a formal response to the cannabis business advocate on 
all recommendations submitted; 
4. Proposing changes in the administrative practices of the office to mitigate problems 
identified under subsections 1, 2 and 3; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMEND~ENT 'A" to H.P. 972, L.D. 1517 
5. Maintaining a record of the volume, nature and resolution status of complaints 
received from paiticipants and providing the director of the office with this information by 
November 1st of each year. 
Sec, B-4. Reports; authority to report out legislation. By December 15, 2026, 
the Department of Labor, the Depa1tment of Economic and Community Development and 
the Depattment of Administrative and Financial Services shall separately file a repott with 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters, the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over economic and 
community development matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over cannabis matters. The departments must include in their repo1ts 
details on the activities and impact of their effo1ts required under this Patt. The Depaitment 
of Administrative and Financial Services shall also include in its repo1t the volume, nature 
and resolution of complaints received by the cannabis business advocate established in 
section 3 of this Patt. 
Sec, B-5. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Adult Use Cannabis Public Health and Safety Fund and Municipal Opt-In Fund 
Z263 
Initiative: Establishes one limited-period Public Service Coordinator II position for a 
cannabis business advocate effective August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2026 and provides 
funding for related All Other costs. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
Personal Services 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL 
SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
2023-24 
$0 
$0 
$0 
2023-24 
$0 
$0 
2024-25 
$118,854 
$9,453 
$128,307 
2024-25 
$128,307 
$128,307 
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF 
Social Equity Program N495 
Initiative: Allocates ongoing funds for the costs to implement and administer a social equity 
program to increase workforce development programs and provide suppott to individuals 
who are members of impacted communities and businesses that are owned by members of 
impacted communities. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
2023-24 
$0 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2024-25 
$300,000 
'\:iOS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT •A" to H.P. 972, L.D. 1517 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY 
DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF 
Maine Apprenticeship Program Z375 
$0 
2023-24 
$0 
$0 
$300,000 
2024-25 
$300,000 
$300,000 
Initiative: Establishes one limited-period CareerCenter Consultant position effective 
August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2026 to increase access to workforce development 
opportunities for impacted communities and provides funding for related All Other costs. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
2023-24 
2024-25 
Personal Services 
$0 
$79,335 
All Other 
$0 
$9,500 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
SECTION TOTALS 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
$0 
2023-24 
$0 
$0 
2023-24 
$0 
$0 
$88,835 
2024-25 
$88,835 
$88,835 
2024-25 
$517,142 
$517,142 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Pait letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority repott of the committee, replaces the bill and 
changes the title. 
The amendment establishes a social equity program within the 
Department of Economic and Community Development to increase workforce 
development programs and provide supp01t to individuals who are members of impacted 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 972, L.D. 1517 
communities and businesses that are owned by members of impacted communities. For 
purposes of this amendment, "impacted community" means a racial, ethnic or tribal 
population that has experienced incarceration at rates dispropo1iionate to the racial, ethnic 
or tribal population's rate of criminality stmiing in or about the year 1971 and as a result 
the racial, ethnic or tribal population has experienced direct or indirect discrimination in 
access to housing, employment and education. The costs to implement the program may 
not exceed $300,000 per biennium. 
The amendment also creates the Social Equity Program Advisory Committee of 5 
individuals who are members of impacted communities. The committee must be convened 
by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or the commissioner's 
designee. 
The amendment creates the following time-limited programs to implement the work of 
the program: 
1. An apprenticeship navigator position within the Depa1iment of Labor to increase 
access to workforce development opportunities for impacted communities, including, but 
not limited to, apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs; 
2. An array of business supp01i services targeted to impacted communities by the 
Depatiment of Economic and Community Development; and 
3. A cannabis business advocate position within the Depmiment of Administrative and 
Financial Services to assist patiicipants under the Cannabis Legalization Act and the Maine 
Medical Use of Cannabis Act, respectively. 
Funds from the Adult Use Cannabis Public Health and Safety and Municipal Opt-in 
Fund may be expended to suppoti the activities in this amendment. 
Each depatiment must submit a rep01i by December 15, 2026 to the joint standing 
committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters, economic and 
community development matte1·s and cannabis matters. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/01/24 :War:.. 
LD 1517 
LR 2215(02) 
An Act to Create Equity in the State's Cannabis Industry 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "/J( (H-911) 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2023-24 
FY 2024-25 
Projections 
FY 2025-26 
Projections 
FY 2026-27 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
$0 
$517,142 
$392,943 
$170,918 
Transfers .. 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill includes Other Special Revenue Funds allocations totaling $517,142 in fiscal year 2024-25 for the costs 
associated with implementing the requirements of this legislation, 
$0 
Of this amount, a one-time Other Special Revenue Funds allocation to the Depa1iment of Administrative and 
Financial Services of $128,307 in fiscal year 2024-25 is included for a Cannabis Business Advocate position 
effective from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2026 to assist businesses participating in the Cannabis Legalization 
Act and the Maine Medical Use Cannabis Act, 
Additionally, an ongoing Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $300,000 in fiscal year 2024-25 to a newly 
created Social Equity Program within the Department of Economic and Community Development is included for the 
costs associated with implementing and administering a program to increase workforce development programs and 
provide support to businesses owned by or individuals who are members of impacted c01mnunities, The department 
will require ongoing Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of $150,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 2025-26 
for the ongoing costs of the program, Transfers of $300,000 in fiscal year 2024~25 and $150,000 per year thereafter 
are provided from the Adult Use Cannabis Public Health and Safety Municipal Opt-In Fund to fund the allocations. 
Finally, a one-time Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $88,835 in fiscal year 2024-25 to the Maine 
Apprenticeship Program within the Department of Labor is included to establish one limited-period CareerCenter 
Consultant position effective August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2026 to increase access to workforce development 
opportunities for impacted communities. The department will require Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of 
$99,163 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $8,533 in fiscal year 2026-27 to suppo1i the cost of the position through July of 
2026, Conesponding transfers are provided from the Adult Use Cannabis Public Health and Safety Municipal Opt-In 
• Fund to fund the allocations, 
LR2215(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1