Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §6006-D, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

4.__State cost-sharing program for regional service center parking garages.__The bank may administer funds for the construction of regional service center parking garages.__For the purpose of this subsection, a regional service center is determined by rule of the Department of Economic and Community Development, referred to in this subsection as the "department."__ Any bonds issued under this section must be paid for out of the General Fund.__In administering these funds, the department shall provide funding to regional service centers for approved projects according to the order of priority established biennially by the department.__Once priority is established all projects on the list of approved projects must be funded before any new projects are added to the list.__The department shall establish guidelines by rule to fund eligible applicants in a consistent and timely manner.

Any rules adopted by the department under this subsection are routine technical rules as__defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

Sec. 2. Application; criteria. Section 1 of this Act may not be implemented and funding under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 6006-D, subsection 4 may not be approved by the Department of Economic and Community Development until law enacting criteria for allocation of funds takes effect. The department shall, with the cooperation of stakeholders, develop criteria for allocation of funds under Title 30-A, section 6006- D, subsection 4 and shall submit legislation to the 120th Legislature by January 31, 2002 proposing the criteria.

SUMMARY

This bill provides financial assistance for the State's regional service center communities that need to construct parking garages.