An Act to Develop Maine's Economy and Strengthen Its Workforce by Establishing an Office of New Americans
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2167
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: DHALAC, BENNETT, ABDI, COLLAMORE, STOVER, TALBOT ROSS, ROTUNDO
Amends: 5 MRSA §3110, 5 MRSA §3111, 5 MRSA §12004-I

Legislative Document
No. 2167
H.P. 1387
House of Representatives, January 16, 2024
An Act to Develop Maine's Economy and Strengthen Its Workforce 
by Establishing an Office of New Americans
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DHALAC of South Portland.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL)
Cosponsored by Senator BENNETT of Oxford and
Representatives: ABDI of Lewiston, COLLAMORE of Pittsfield, STOVER of Boothbay, 
Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland, Senator: ROTUNDO of Androscoggin.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §3110 is enacted to read:
§3110.  Office of New Americans
1. Establishment; purpose; administration. The Office of New Americans is 
established within the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future for the purpose of 
improving the economic and civic integration of immigrants into the State's workforce and 
communities to strengthen the economy over the long term. The Office of Policy 
Innovation and the Future shall administer the Office of New Americans.
2. Director; duties. The director of the Office of New Americans shall serve at the 
pleasure of the director of the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. The director of 
the Office of New Americans shall assist the director of the Office of Policy Innovation 
and the Future in performing the following duties within the Office of New Americans:
A. Hiring professional personnel competent by education, training and experience to 
carry out the work of the Office of New Americans;
B. Supervising and administering the affairs of the Office of New Americans;
C. Determining the necessary budget for the Office of New Americans; and
D. Reporting on the activities of the Office of New Americans.
3. Duties of the Office of New Americans. Under the supervision of the director of 
the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future and the director of the Office of New 
Americans, and with guidance from the Office of New Americans Advisory Council 
established in section 3111, the Office of New Americans shall identify and address needs, 
barriers and opportunities in order to support the long-term economic and civic integration 
of immigrants in the State by:
A. Collecting and analyzing relevant data;
B. Coordinating with all relevant local, state and federal government agencies;
C. Serving as the State's primary liaison with all relevant external stakeholders; and
D. Undertaking and promoting activities that improve the economic and civic 
integration of immigrants into the State's workforce and communities.
4. Activities. The Office of New Americans shall undertake and promote activities that 
improve the economic and civic integration of immigrants into the State's workforce and 
communities. Activities may include, but are not limited to:
A. Strengthening workforce opportunities by providing guidance and promoting 
improved pathways for professional accreditation and licensure, supporting enhanced 
career pathways and engaging with businesses to increase employment, retention and 
advancement of immigrant employees;
B. Expanding, improving and increasing access to English language learning programs; 
C. Supporting the expansion of access to legal services and protections;
D. Partnering with and supporting municipalities, school administrative units, 
educational institutions, community-based organizations and businesses providing 
assistance or opportunities to immigrants;
E. Participating in the nationwide Office of New Americans State Network, or its 
successor network, to access information and best practices from other states;
F. Collaborating with and providing guidance to agencies of State Government and the 
entity designated by the Federal Government to administer the State's refugee 
resettlement services in developing and executing policies that support the purpose of 
the Office of New Americans;
G. Coordinating with and advising federal agencies and the State's congressional 
delegation on federal policies that support the purpose of the Office of New Americans;
H. Advising the Governor and Legislature regarding any statutory, regulatory or other 
policies or practices that may be addressed to better support the purpose of the Office 
of New Americans; and
I. Promoting greater understanding of the history of immigration in the State, the 
contributions and influence of immigrants in the State and how communities may 
support immigrants' integration into local civic and economic life.
5. Rulemaking. The Office of New Americans may adopt rules as necessary for the 
proper administration of this section and section 3111 pursuant to the Maine Administrative 
Procedure Act. Unless otherwise specified, rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are 
routine technical rules as defined in chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
6. Report. Beginning February 1, 2026, the Office of New Americans shall report 
biennially to the Governor and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over relevant matters with information and recommendations relating to the 
work and needs of the Office of New Americans.
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §3111 is enacted to read:
§3111.  Office of New Americans Advisory Council
The Office of New Americans Advisory Council, as established in section 12004-I, 
subsection 6-K, is created as an advisory council to the Office of New Americans 
established in section 3110 on matters affecting the long-term economic and civic 
integration of immigrants in the State.
1. Duties of advisory council. The advisory council shall advise the Office of New 
Americans on matters affecting the long-term economic and civic integration of immigrants 
in the State.
2. Membership. The advisory council consists of 19 members as follows:
A. At least 10 members who are immigrants, 8 appointed by the Governor, one 
appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the 
House;
B. Three members appointed by the President of the Senate representing the following:
(1) A school administrative unit;
(2) An adult education program; and
(3)  A small business;
C.  Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House representing the following:
(1)  An organization providing refugee resettlement services;
(2)  A provider of legal assistance to immigrants; and
(3)  A municipality; and
D.  Three members appointed by the Governor representing the following:
(1)  A large business;
(2)  A provider of housing assistance; and
(3)  An organization with demonstrated expertise in workforce development.
In making appointments of members to the advisory council, the appointing authorities 
shall make a good faith effort to ensure that the members of the advisory council reflect 
geographic, gender, ethnic and racial diversity.
3. Terms of office; removal. Members of the advisory council serve 3-year terms and 
may be reappointed. A vacancy for an unexpired term must be filled in accordance with 
subsection 2. A member may serve until a replacement is appointed. The Governor may 
terminate the membership of any appointee for good cause. The reason for the termination 
must be communicated in writing to a member whose membership is terminated. The 
membership of any member of the advisory council must be terminated if the member is 
absent from 3 consecutive meetings without communicating good cause to a chair of the 
advisory council.
4. Cochairs. The Governor shall appoint 2 cochairs from among the members 
appointed and serving pursuant to subsection 2.
5. Meetings; staffing. The advisory council shall meet at the discretion of the cochairs. 
Meetings may be cancelled or postponed at the discretion of the cochairs. All meetings of 
the advisory council are public proceedings within the meaning of Title 1, chapter 13, 
subchapter 1. The Office of New Americans shall provide staffing services as necessary to 
the advisory council.
Sec. 3.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§6-K is enacted to read:
6-K.   
Economic 
Development 
Office of New Americans Advisory 
Council 
Not Authorized 
MRSA 
§3111 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Office of New Americans within the Office of Policy 
Innovation and the Future and also establishes an advisory council to the Office of New 
Americans.