Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §13035, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 875, Pt. L, §§2 and 4, is amended to read:

The commission is responsible for overseeing the Small Business Development Center Program, enforcing the contract between the Finance Authority of Maine and the administrative unit, and providing funds to the program and coordinating outreach and technical assistance to natural resource-based businesses and businesses with 3 or fewer employees. The commission has the following duties.

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §13035, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

4.__Coordinate assistance to certain businesses.__The commission shall coordinate outreach and technical assistance to natural resource-based businesses and businesses with 3 or fewer employees.__The development project officer shall work closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, the Department of Marine Resources, the Bureau of Forestry, the Finance Authority of Maine, community action agencies and private lenders to develop and implement an overall plan for technical assistance and outreach to natural resource-based businesses and businesses with 3 or fewer employees.

Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §13059-A is enacted to read:

§13059-A.__State agencies to develop strategy

1.__State agencies to develop strategy.__A state agency or any other organization that receives funding from the State to carry out the purposes of this Part shall develop a strategy to ensure that natural resource-based businesses and micro businesses receive technical assistance and have access to lending programs administered by the agency or organization.__The strategy must make a priority of the dissemination of information and assistance to rural areas.__For purposes of this section, "micro business" means a business with 3 or fewer employees.

2.__Report.__By January 15th of each year, a state agency or organization that is required to develop a strategy in relation to the purposes of section 1 shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business and economic development matters.