An Act to Establish the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1643
Committee Amendment CA_C_S559 (Senate)
Amends: 5 MRSA §15303

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " C<" to S.P. 651, L.D. 1643, "An Act to Establish the
Maine Life Science Innovation Center"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'An Act to Establish the Maine Life Sciences Innovation Center'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
following;
'See. 1. 5 MRSA §15303, sub-§6, ^ as enacted by PL 1999,c. 401, Pt, AAA,
§3, is amended to read:
D. Shall coordinate its priorities with the applied research and development efforts of
the Universi ty of Ma ine System insofar as those efforts are in the targeted technologies
and encourage, when possible and appropriate, companies and research laboratories
receiving funds from the institute to establish j oint ventures with the university system;
end
See. 2. 5 MRSA §15303, sub-§6, ^E, as amended by PL 2017, c. 109, §3, is further
amended to read:
E. Shall cooperate with the Department of Economic and Community Development,
the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the University of Maine System and
others in their efforts to ensure that a complementary system of support services,
including, as needed and appropriate, incubators, business assistance, technology
transfer, market research, patent research and similar services, is in place and available
to companies and research laboratories receiving funds from the institutCT; and
Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §15303, sub-§6, ^F is enacted to read:
F. Shall support the Maine Life Sciences Innovation Center pursuant to section 15331,
Sec. 4. 5 MRSA c. 407,sub-c. 4 is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER4
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
0^
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " Qj; to S.P. 651, L.D. 1643 L y-
MAINE LIFE SCIENCES INNOVATION CENTER
815331. Maine Life Sciences Innovation Center
It Establishment: ourpose. The Maine Life Sciences Itmovatjon Center, referred to
inthis subchaoter as "the center." is established within the institute to support life sciences
innovation, research, entreoreneurshio and workforce development in the State. The center
is established to serve the followine ourDosesi
A, To leverage and expand the State's life sciences sector by supportina collaborative
research, workforce training and entrepreneurial ventures aad_seekinR capital
investment;
B. To advance life sciences innovation and sector research across discitilines. includine
human and animal health, marine sciences, aericulture. forestry and dat^seienpe:
C. To coordinate with public and private oartners^edycational and research mstitutions,
nonprofit oraanizations ancLbusiness stakeholdersjo strenethen the State's innovation
efforts;
D. To investigate ooportunities for grants, loans and other resources to suDportlife
sciences entities:
E. To develop strateeies to attract federal, ohilanthropic and private investments
F. To advise the Maine Technology Institute Director under section 15310 on matters
related to life sciences innovation; and
G. To report reeularlv to the Legislature reBardme the center's operations, activities
and recommendations.
2. Membership. The center is composed of 10 members. The members include:
A. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the
commissioner's desienee. who serves as an ex officio. nonvotine member;_and
B. Nine votine members aDDomted by the Governor, upon the recommendation ofjhe
Finance Authority of Maine and the institute, with expertise soamune the life sciences
sector and its allied disciplines, includine representatives of iadustrv. life sciences
entrepreneurs, research institutions, academia. hospitals, nonwofit organizations,
investors and counties, including rural counties. Each member under this oaraeraoh is
entitled to one vote.
The Governor shall desianate a chair from amonR the center's members to preside at. set
the aeenda for and schedule center meetines,
Center members shall disclose any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any matter before
the center and recuse themselves from any Darticipation in the consideration of such a
matter.
3. Operations. The followine provisions govern the operations of the center,
A. The center shall meet as often as it considers necessary for the center to perform its
work.
B. To the extent practicable. the center shall conduct its work in a manner that is open
and accessible to the public,
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ^" to S.P. 651, L.D. 1643 (^>-S5^
C. The center may conduct its work through subcommittees.
4. Staff and administrative sunoort. The institute shall provide staff as may be
necessary to fulfill the center's mission and may seek assistance from other state aeencies
and private entities to accomplish the goals and work of the center,
5. Annual report. The center shall submit annually to the Governor, the Executive
Director of the Leeislative Council and the Joint standing committee of the Legislature
having jurisdiction over economic development matters, no later than 120 days after the
close of the center's fiscal year. a complete report on the activities of the center. The report
must be made available to the public and must include the followins for that fiscal year:
A, A description of the center's operations;
B. An accountine of the center's receipts and expenditures, assets and liabilities at the
end of its fiscal year:
C. A listing of all investments. grants, loans and incentives provided by the center
during the fiscal year;
D. A statement of the center's proposed and projected activities for the ensuing fiscal
year: and
E. Recommendations reeardine further actions that may be suitable for achievina the
purposes of this subchaoter.
After reviewine the report under this subsection, the joint standine conunittee mav report
out legislation relatine to the report.
Sec. 5. Maine Life Sciences Innovation Center; interim report. The Maine
Life Sciences Innovation Center established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title
5, section 15331 shall submit an interim report to the joint standing committee of the
Legislature having jurisdiction over economic development matters no later than 180 days
after all members of the center have been appointed pursuant to Title 5, section 15331,
subsection 2. The interim report must include, but is not limited to, the following:
I, A description of the center's operations;
2, Proposed and projected activities for the ensuing fiscal year; and
3. Recommendations for future actions necessary to achieve the center's goals,
including a recommendation regarding whether the center should be changed to a quasi-
independent state entity.
After reviewing the report under this section, the jouit standing committee may report
out legislation relating to the report."
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill and changes the title. It establishes the Maine Life
Sciences Innovation Center within the Maine Technology Institute to support life sciences
innovation, research, entrepreneurship and workforce development in the State. The
amendment directs the center to submit an interim report to the joint standing committee
Page3-132LR2061(09)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^os
COMMnTBB AMENDMENT"^ " to S.P. 651, L.D. 1643
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over economic development matters no later than 180
days after all members of the center have been appointed.
The amendment permanently establishes in law the Maine Life Sciences Innovation
Center that was previously established by the Governor by executive order and is not
intended to establish a separate, duplicative entity.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 03/10/26 t-Kt-
LD 1643 LR 2061(09)
An Act to Establish the Maine Life Science Innovation Center
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment p' ^ 5/ <^f\ ^
Committee; Housing and Economic Development
Fiscal Note Required; Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Additional costs to the Department of Economic and Community Development for the Commissioner or a designee to
serve as an ex officio member of the Maine Life Science Innovation Center are assumed to be minor and can be
absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR2061(09) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1