An Act to Establish the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2216
Committee Amendment CA_A_S637 (Senate)
Amends: 5 MRSA §15303

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "-^ " to S,P. 903, L.D. 2216, "An Act to Establish the
Maine Blue Economy Center"
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
following;
'See. 1. 5 MRSA §15303, sub-§7, ^D, as enacted by PL 2017, o. 109, §4, is
amended to read;
IS D. A program, in collaboration with the Maine Innovation Economy Advisoiy Board
under Title 10, section 949, to support the technology transfer activities of the
University of Maine System, other postsecondaiy educational institutions in the State
and nonprofit research institutes eligible for funding under an asset technology fund
established and administered by the institute, to increase the level of patenting at the
University of Maine System, other postsecondary institutions in the State and nonprofit
research Institutes and to promote the licensing of the patents, especially to new and
existing companies with operations in the State. Support under this paragraph may
include expenses associated with patenting and licensing. The administrative costs of
a program under this paragraph are not management and related operating costs of the
institute under section 15305; afid
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §15303, sub-§7, ^E, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 109, §4, is
amended to read:
E. A program in collaboration with the University of Maine School of Law to support
the commercialization and manufacturing of innovations in the State by providing
education and assistance with the patent process of the United States Patent and
Trademark Office to companies, inventors and entrepreneurs in the State. The
administrative costs of a program under this paragraph are not management and related
operating costs of the institute under section 15305r; and
Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §15303, sub-§7, ^F is enacted to read:
5 F-^The Maine Blue Economy Center pursuant to section 15331. subsection 2,
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Sec. 4. 5 MRSA c. 407, sub-c. 4 is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 4
MAINE BLUE ECONOMY CENTER
§15331. Maine Blue Economy Center
1. Deflnitions. As used in this subchapter. unless the context otherwise indicates, the
following terms have the followine meanings.
A. "Blue economy" means the aggreeate of persons engaged in any economic activity
that depends upon the sustainable use of ocean, coastal or marine resources that
QGtunizes innovation to retain and expand economic ODportunities in the State while
maintaining or improvine the long-term health of marine ecosystems. includine. but
not limited to. business, manufacturina. research and education relatine to commercial
fishing, sustainable aauaculture and marine vegetation cultivation, marine
biotechnoloev. ocean data and marine research, marine and coastal environmental
science, resilient coastal infrastructure, workine waterfront access and infrastructurej
coasts} ecosystem restoration and stewardshto. marine recreation and tourism and
sustainable boat building or marine promilsion or other industries erounded in the
State's marine heritaee. research expertise, location or traditional activities.
B. "Board" means the board of directors for the center established in subsection 3.
C. "Center" means the Maine Blue Economy Center established in subsection 2.
D. "Commercial fishine" means the harvesting or processine. or botli. of wild marine
oreanisms from natural habitats with the intent of disposine of them for profit or trade
in commercial channels.
2. Establishments purpose. The Maine Blue Economy Center is established within
the Maine Technoloev Institute to serve as the State's central coordinatine entity for blue
economy sector initiatives and to work in collaboration with eovemmeutal entities, trade
associations, institutions of higher education. research institutions, nonprofit oreanizations.
businesses and other entities to provide for tlie growth of the blue economy sector. The
center shall support the sustainable development of ocean-based industrtes while
recoanizine the importance of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the marine resources upon
B'hjch coastal communities and traditional marine industries depend. The center is
established to serve the followine purooses;
A. To expand the State's blue economy by supportine collaborative research, workforce
trainine. entrepreneurial ventures, private sector investment and commercialization of
ocean-based innovations:
B, To pather and analyze data that inform decisions, measure proeress. identify new
QBoertunities for the blue economy and monitor the healthof oceanresources on which
the blue economy depends. includine throueh the development of a blue econQmv
8 database and accessible public tools, such as an onl ine portal and other_Dublic resources
that improve understandine of the State's blue economy;
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C. To communicate onaoing and einereine trends and Derformance metrics for
economic activity and the health of ocean resources on which the blue economy
depends through a regular public report on the state of the_State's blue eCQnQmv;
D, To serve as a statewide navieator and coordinating organization for the State's blue
economy by connectine partners. alienine initiatives, strenethenine communication
and reducing unnecessary duplication across public, private and nonDi'ofit efforts;
E. To coordinate with public and private partners, educational and research institutions.
nonprofit organizations and business stakeholders to strengthen tlie State's blue
economy and support collaboration across ocean industries;
F. To ensure that the traditional marine industries of this State, includine commercial
fishing and workine waterfi'ont activities, remain central to the State's blue economy
and are -fully considered in the center's planning, partnerships and recommendations;
G. To facilitate the creation of a hiehlv skilled workforce and support attraction and
retention of workers in the blue economy sector. inoludinR by m'omotine intemsluDs.
aDDrenticestiiDs and other work-based leamine oDDortimities;
H, To conduct targeted workforce analyses, includine assessments of workforce
barriers, participation, outcomes and future workforce needs in the blue economy
sector;
I. To support efforts to strengthen awareness about blue economy careers and education
pathways in kindergarten to prade 12 and higher education;
J, To investigate opportunities for gt'ants. loans and other resources to support blue
economy entities and initiatives;
K. To develop strateeies to attract federal, philanthropic and private investment and to
position this State competitively for external fundine:
L. To identify policy. m'oerammatic and partnershio ODDortunities that can suoDort
sustainable growth across the blue economy sector;
M. To advise the president of the Maine Technology Institute designated under section
15302 o^^^^^^ to the blue econoiny^and
N. To report reeularlv to the Leeislatut'e t'eeardme its operations. activities, outcomes
and recommendations,
3. Board of directors. The work of the center must be overseen bv a board of directors
composed of 17 members. of whom 4 members are ex officio. nonvoting members as
SDecifjedJiLDaragraDh A and 13 members are appointed as specified in paragraoli B. A
member a^Bointed^ursuant to paraRi'aDh B is entitled to one vote.
A. EK officio members of the board are:
CDThe Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or the
commissioner's desienee;
{2'LJtie Rresident of the Maine Technology Institute designated under section
15302 or the president's desienee;
(3t The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the chancellor's designee;
and
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" /\ " to S,P. 903, L.D. 2216
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(4)The Commissioner of Marine Resources or the commissioner's desienee.
B. The members of the board who are not ex officio members are apDointed by the
Governor and are subject to confirmation by the Senate and must be individuals or
representatives oforeaiuzations that are in a position to advance the purposes and eoals
o£the_center_and ^t^able_to_have a sienificant effect on iinprovine the State's blue
economy sector, When making apDointments under this paraeraph, the Governor shall
consider the multidisciplinarv nature of the State's blue economy sector and the
importance of diverse representation from coastal and rural communities and from
businesses and shall consult with the board of directors of the Maine TeclinoloRV
Institute and the board of directors of the Finance Authority of Maine to ensure the
aUenment of those apDointments with the State's economic development strateaies,
Membership under this paraeraoh must include:
d) A representative of a business in the State with fewer than 25 employees that
js_ involved in the blue economy sector;
(2) A representative of a business in the State with 25 or more employees that is
involved in the blue economy sector;
C3) A representative of a nonprofit marine or ocean science research institution
based in the State that is involved in research and development in the blue economy
sector;
(4) Arepresentative of a university, community colleee or trade school in the State
that is involved in the blue economy sector, including marine or coastal
environmental research in the Gulf of Maine;
dl_A representative recommended by a federally recognized Indian tribe in the
State;
f6) Twoji'epresentatives! of tt'ade associations or noiiDrofit oreanizations that
suBfiort the blue econoinv sector, at least one of which collaborates directly with
private sector marine industries;
C7') A iwresentative of business investors or the banking or finance sectors;
(8'LA representative of a privately owned commercial flshine or workine
waterfront business in the State;
C9) A municipal official of a coastal community in the State;
(10') A representative from the private sector with experience in sustainable
aguaculture or marine veeetation cultivation in the State;
(11') A representative with expertise in emereine ocean industries; and
d 2) A reDi'esentative of a privately owned marine recreational tourism business or
trade association.
Members of the board who are not ex officio members serve 3-year terms and may be
reappointed,
C. The Governor shall desienate a chair from among the board's members who shall
preside at. set the agenda for and schedule meetings oftlie board.
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D. Board members shall disclose any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any matter
broupht to the center and t'ecuse tliemselves from any DarticinatiQn in theconsideration
of such matters.
E. The board shall meet as often as it considers necessary to perform its work and. to
the extent practicable, the board shall conduct its work in a manner that is open and
accessible to the public. Tlie board may conduct its work through subcommittees.
4. Operations of the center. The followine Di'ovisions eovern the operations of the
center.
A. The center shall coordinate its activities with relevant state apencies. marine
industry organizations, research institutions and reeional economic development
oreanizations in order to strengthen collaboration and avoid duplication of effort across
the State's blue economy initiatives.
B, The center shall coordinate its activities with the other proerams under the
jurisdiction of the Maine Technology Institute, includine any proerams that oromote
life sciences and^ jnnoyMbnln the State^^^^
C, The center shall develop and implement a database composed of data that monitors
the economic performance, workforce composition and environmental and resource
trends in the Gulf of Maine that are relevant to the blue economy sector. The center
shall assess economic performance by evaluating employment data of businesses
within the blue economy sector, including wages paid to employees, the number of
businesses operating within the blue economy sector and the revenue eenerated by
those businesses.
D, To support its activities under this section, ttie center may seek outside funds.
throueh direct solicitation or other fundraisine methods, alone or with other groups.
and may accept gifts, prants and bequests from individuals, corporations. foundations.
eovernmental agencies and public and private oreanizations and may expend those
funds for Dumoses consistent with this section,
5, Staff and administrative sunnort. The Maine Technoloev Institute shall provide
staff as may be necessai-v to fulfill the center's mission and may seek assistance from other
state agencies and private entities to accomplish the &oals and worLofthe_center,
6. Annual report. The center shall submit annually to the Governor, the Executive
Director of the Legislative Council and the joint standing committee of the Leeislature
havine iurisdiction 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
5 must also be made available to the public, The report must include the followine for that
fiscal year;
A. A descriRtipn of the center's operations and an assessment of trends and performance
in the State's blue economy sector, includme details on the methods used to assess and
measure the center's economic development impacts on the blue economy sector;
B. An accounting of the center's receipts and expenditures, assets and liabilities at the
end of its fiscal vear;
C. A listing of all investments, prants. loans and incentives provided by the center
during its fiscal year;
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>1 D. A statement of the center's proposed and projected activities for its ensuinp fiscal
year;
E. An analysis of workforce trends, investment activity and emereine opDortunities in
the State's blue economy sector;
P. The most recent data available on the size. composition and growth trends in the
State's marine economy and environment that is compiled in the center's database
Dursuant to subsection 4. oat'agraph C; and
G, Recommendations regarding further actions that may be suitable fbuchieving the
purposes of this subchapter.
After reviewine the report under this subsection, the joint standinp committee of tlie
Leeislature having jurisdiction over economic development matters may report out
legislation relating to the report,
Sec. 5. Maine Blue Economy Center; interim report The Maine Blue
Economy 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 60 days after all
members of the board of directors of the center have been appointed pursuant to Title 5,
15331, subsection 3. The interim report must include, but is not limited to, the following:
1. A strategic plan, including proposed measures of success, for the center covering the
subsequent 5-year period;
2. An operational plan identifying anticipated staff and partnership resources, proposed
tasks and expected accomplishments; and
3. A finance plan identifying general operating expenditures, anticipated task-related
and prqject-related expenditures and funding.
After reviewing the report under this section, the joint standing committee may report
out legislation relating to the report.
Sec. 6. Staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5,
section 15331, subsection 3, paragraph B, with regard to the initial appointments of the
members of the board of directors of the Maine Blue Economy Center, the Governor shall
appoint 4 members to a one-year term, 5 members to a 2-year term and 4 members to a 3-
year term.
See. 7. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
Maine Blue Economy Center N569
6 Initiative; Provides one-time funding to support the operations of the Maine Blue Economy
Center.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $0 $500,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $500,000
Page6-132LR3009(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ft" to S.P. 903, L,D. 2216 ( ^(jQ^
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is tlie majority report of the committee, replaces the bill. The
amendment establishes the Maine Blue Economy Center within the Maine Technology
Institute. Tile amendment directs (he center to submit an interim report within 60 days after
all members have been appointed to its board of directors to the joint standing committee
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over economic development matters and provides a
$500,000 allocation for start-up operation costs of the center.
FISCAL NOTE REQmRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Revised: 04/02/26 t-K^
LD 2216 LR 3009(02)
An Act to Establish the Maine Blue Economy Center
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'Zt'/<i
Committee: Housing and Economic Development
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 FY 2027-28 FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $500,000 $0 $0
Appropriations/AIIocations
General Fund $0 $500,000 $0 $0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The bill provides a one-time General Fund appropriation of $500,000 in fiscal year 2026-27 to the Department of
Economic and Community Development to support the operations of the Maine Blue Economy Center. Any additional
costs to other agencies to implement the provisions of this bill are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within
existing budgeted resources.
LR3009(02) - Fiscal Note. Page 1 of 1