Resolve, to Reestablish
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1023
Committee Amendment CA_A_S297 (Senate)

FIRST SllECIAL SESSION 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ".A "to S.P. 441, L.D. 1023, "Resolve, to Reestablish 
and Continue the Wo1·k of the Blue Economy Task Force1' 
Amend the t'esolve by striking out the title imd substitutlng the following: 
1Resolvc, to Reestablish the Blue Economy Task Force to Support Maine's Emergence 
as a Center for Blue l~conomy Innovation and Opportunity in tlu.} 21st Century1 
Amend the resolve by striking out evet'ything afte1· the title and inserting the following: 
'Emergency prenntble, Whereas, acts on.d resolves of the Legislatu1·c do not 
become effective until 90 days after acljoumment unless enacted as emerge_ncies; and 
\Vhereas, the sustainable use of the ocean's resources for economic health, improved 
livelihoods and jobs and ecosystem health., referred to as 
1he blue economy/' is one of the 
fastest growing global economic sectol's; and 
Whereas, the State is attracting the interest of blue economy entrepreneurs and 
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invest01·s due to its clean and cold. waters, its seafood industry that produces high-quaJity 
and sustainably harvested products, its marine research institutions and its exte11sive 
maritime expertise; and 
Whereas, Resolve 2023, chapter 119 established the Blue Economy Task Force to 
suppo1t Malne's emergence as a center for blue economy innovation and opportunity in the 
21st century; and 
Whereas, the work begun. by that task force to identify b1miers to and propose policies 
lo attract and support the responsible and efficient gro'Nth of the blue economy in the State 
and 10 engage stakeholders for those pllt'poses must be continued by a new task force 
established in this legislation~ and 
Whereas, the new task force must initiate its work prior to the expiration of the 90-
day period so that its work may be completed and its report submitted to the next legislative 
session; and 
Pnge I - 132LR2011(02) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'fl "lo S.P. 441, LJ). l02J Cs {)'11] 
Whereas, i.11 the judgment of the Legislatm·e, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary fo1• the preservation of the public peace, health and satety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Task fo1•cc established. Resolved; That the Department of Economic a11d 
Community Development shall convene the Blue Economy Task Fol'ce, referred to in this 
resolve as 
11the task force/ to support the State's emel'gencc as a center for blue economy 
innovation and opportunity in the 21st century, 
As used in this resolve, 
11b1ue economy
means business sectors that rely on the 
sustainable use of ocean resources for economic hea1th, improved liveliboodsi jobs or 
ecosystem health, and "sustainable" means practices that support the economic gt'owth of 
a community while maintaining or impt(wing the health of marine ecosystems and "Yithout 
negatively impacting social> environmental and cultural aspects of the community. 
Sec. 2. Task force membership, ResolYcd: That the task force consists of 23 
members as f-ollows. 
.l, The Pl'Csidcnt of the Senate shall appoint one member of the Senate and the Speaker 
of the House shall appoint 2 membe1·s of the House of Representatives, including a member 
from each of the 2 patties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature. Members 
appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House serve at the pleasure 
of thefr respective appointing authority. 
2. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall appoint 19 
members. 
A, Members appointed by the commissioner serve at the pleasure of the commissioner 
and must include representatives of public and private research institutions, businesses 
that are innovating in varinus blue economy sectors, fisheries businesses, aquaculture 
businesses and equity investors in blue economy businesses. The commissioner shall 
ensure that a majority of the members of the task force membership appointed pursuant 
to this subsection represent a blue economy biisiness or an entity directly involved in 
the commercialization of blue economy-related research and innovation, 
B. The commissioner shall to the greatest extent practicable ensure that members who 
served on the Blue Economy Task Force, as established by Resolve 2023, chapter 119 
and referred to in !his resolve as "the prior task fot'ce,'1 at·e provided an opportunity to 
serve on the task force established by this resolve. If a membet' of the prior task force 
is unable or unwill.ing to serve on the task force established in section 1, the 
commissio11er shall ensu1-e that the member appointed to serve on the task force in that 
prior member's place represents the same interests or background as the prior member. 
3. The P1·eside.nt of the Maine Tecbnology Institute or tho p1'esident's designee shall 
serve as a member of the task force, 
The appointing authorities identified in this section shall ensure that all appointments 
are made no later than June 30> 2025. 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Economic a11d Com.munity 
Development shall appoint 2 cochafrs from among the task force's members, one who is 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMl'ITEE AMENDMENT" A~• to S.P. 441, LJ). 1023 ( $· :;J 'f7) 
employed by a sl'ate agency and one who is not employed by a state agency. The cochairs 
shall set the schedule and agenda for task force meetings and preside at the meetings. 
Sec. 4. Duties. Resolved: That the task force has, but is not limited 10, the following 
duties. 
$ 
l. The task force shall develop recommendations for the establishment of the Center 
for the Blue Economy, refe1Ted to in this section as 
11the center," which must include, but 
is not limited to: 
A. An organizational strncture and budget for the ongoing funding of the center; 
B. A requirement that the center be either housed within ru1 existing instih1tion, such 
as the University of Maine System, or as a stand~alonc> independent entity; and 
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C. The scope of the authorities and responsibilities of the center, which may include, 
but arc not limited to: 
(1) Supporting businesses and other institutions in the State to build on the blue 
economy advantages ohnd redt1ce the obstacles to further development of the blue 
economy in the State identified by the prim· task force in its report submitted 
pursuant to Resolve 2023, chapter l I. 9, section 6; 
(2) Advancing research and development. and supporting innovation in the blue 
eco110111y1 including the financing of innovations and grnwth in blue economy 
output and employme11t; 
(3) Pi.·omoting communication and collaboration among blue economy institutions 
and businesses; 
(4) Providing common services to blue economy businesses and institutions, 
including research snppo1t and access to journals and tech11ologies such as 
laboratories, 3-D printing and data management; nnd 
(5) Supporting the development of blue economy sectors as outlined in cunent or 
future sector-specific development plans and roadmaps. 
2. The task fotce shall recommend improvements and expansions of blue economy 
workforce education and training to e11compass the elementary a11d secondary school 
system and public and pdvate institutions of higher education. 
Sec. 5. 
Staff assistance, Resolved: That the Department of Econornic and 
Community Development shall provide necessary staft1ng assistance to the task force. At 
the request of the task force, othe.r state agencies and state entitles shall provide information 
and analysis to assist the task force in its deliberations and repotting. 
Sec. 6, Funding, Resolved: 
That the task force may accept grants1 private 
contributions and a11y othe1· oiitside funding to suppo1t the task force in carrying out its 
duties. 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That the task fo!'ce shall pl'cparc and submit a written 
l'eporl containing its findings and l'ecommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Housing and Economic Development no later than December 3, 2025. Aflcl' reviewing the 
repmi, the committee may report out legislation relating to the report to the Seco1)d Regular 
Session of the 132nd Legislature. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
R.OFS 
I 
1S 
.... 
COMMITl'EE AMENDMENT "A-" lo S,P. 441, L.D. l023 ( $-d,-q7) 
See. 8, 
Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following 
appl'opl'iations and nllocations are made. 
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF 
Dlue Economy Task Force N546 
Initiative: Provides base allocations to authorize expenditures of money received from 
public or private sources. 
OTHKR SPJi~CIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
Maine Technology Capacity Fund N545 
2025-26 
$500 
$500 
2026-27 
$500 
$500 
Initiative: Provides one~time funds to match funds in support of blue economy-related 
research, economic development and education and training. 
GENKRAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY 
DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL- ALL :FUNDS 
2025~26 
$100,000 
$100,000 
$500 
$.100,500 
$0 
2026-27 
$0 
$500 
$500 
Emel'gcncy clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble~ this legislation 
takes effoct when approved.' 
Amend the resolve by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive .Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY· 
This amendment, which is the majority repo1i of the committee, changes the title of 
and replaces the resolve and adds an emerg-ency preamble and emergency clause. lt also 
adds an appropriations and allocations section. The amendment directs the Department of 
Economic and Comm1mity Development to convene the Blue Economy Task Fo!'ce to 
develop recommendations for the establishment of the Center for the Blue Economy and 
to make other recommendations. The task force is directed to submit a report tot-he Joint 
Standing Committee on Housing and Economic Development no later than December 3, 
2025, and the committee may report out legislation relating to the report. The am.endment 
also provides a11 appropriation of $100,000 in fiscal year 2025w26 to support the Maine 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
mMMrrnm AMBNDM EN']"' A-" to S.P. ll l, L.D. I 023 ( 5 , ;;;c;rJ 
Technology Capacity Fund to provide matching funds in suppo1t of blue economy"1·elated 
reseal'ch, economic development and education a11d tl'aining. 
FISCAL NOTE IU~QUIRKD 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Apprnved: 05/27/25 l-RL-
LD 1023 
LR 2011(02) 
Resolve, to Reestablish and Ccmtinuc the Wol'I{ of the Blue Economy Task Force 
Fiscal Note for Hill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'tr ( S,9-l'(}) 
Committee: Housing and Economic Development 
• 
Net Cost (Sa,1ings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Fiscal Note Re.quired: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
$100,000 
$100,000 
$500 
FY 2026-27 
$0 
$0 
$500 
Projections 
Ji'Y 2027-28 
$0 
$0 
$500 
Projections 
FY 2028-29 
$u 
$0 
$500 
The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $2,100 in fiscal year 2025-26. The Legislature's 
proposed budge! for the 2026~2027 biennium includes $22,196 in each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 for the 
costs of legislative studies, as well as $8,265 in projected balances from fiscal year 2024-25 and $33;073 of balances 
carried over from prior yearn for this purpose. Whether these amounts arc sufficient to fund all studies will depend 011 
the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Lcgislatul'e. 
Fiscal Dch1il and Notes 
This bill includes a one~timc General Fund appropriation to the Maine Tech110logy Capacity Fund within the 
Department of Economic and Community Development to provide matching funds in support of blue econoiny~related 
research, eco11omic development and educatio11 and training. This bill also includes ongoing Other Special Revenue 
Funds_ base allocations of $500 per year beginning in fiscal year 2025-26 to the Blue Economy Task Force to authol'ize 
the expenditure of rmy monies received from public and private sources. 
Any additional costs to the other various agencies affected by the provisions of this bill are anticipated to be minor 
and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources, 
LR2011 (02) • .Fiscal Nole • Page l o.f I