DEPARTMENT OF

Regional Economic Development

Assistance Fund

All Other $500,000

Provides funds for grants to nonprofit local or regional community organizations to provide seed funds to develop effective economic development programs.

PART H

Sec. H-1. 10 MRSA §997-B, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 474, §2, is amended to read:

§997-B. Agricultural Products Utilization Commission

The Agricultural Products Utilization Commission, as established in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 6-F, referred to in this section as the "commission," shall advise the members of the authority on the adoption, amendment or repeal of rules, policies or administrative procedures for carrying out section 997-A. The commission shall work with state departments and agencies to identify issues related to the development of agriculturally derived fuel industries in the State. In addition, the commission shall advise the members of the authority on environmental impact considerations, including the impact that agriculturally derived fuels may have on ground water. The commission may also identify agriculturally derived fuel development programs, including incentives, financing and other market and infrastructure issues, and analyze the potential for agriculturally derived fuel production in the State.

1. Membership. The commission consists of 11 12 members. Five members must be appointed by the Governor for terms of 2 years each, arranged so that 2 terms expire in odd-numbered years and 3 terms expire in even-numbered years; 3 of these must be actively engaged in farming in this State and 2 members appointed by the Governor must be actively engaged in business in this State. The Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall appoint one member for a term of 2 years, which expires in odd-numbered years. The member appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources must be actively engaged in farming in this State. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall appoint one member for a term of 2 years, which