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chairs of the joint standing committee of the Legislature having | | jurisdiction over business, research and economic development | | matters, who are ex officio, nonvoting members; the chair of the | | Small Business Development Centers Advisory Council; the District | | Director of the United States Small Business Administration's Maine | | District Office; and a designee from the administrative unit and 3 | | public members with expertise and knowledge in small business and | | entrepreneurship, appointed by the commissioner. |
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| | | Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §13058, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, | | §§17 and 19, is amended to read: |
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| | | 1. Employ and remove staff. The commissioner shall employ | | and remove staff of the department. Persons employed in major | | policy-influencing positions, as defined in section 934-A, and | | professional staff whose positions were formerly located in the | State Development Office shall | | commissioner. The office directors serve at the pleasure of the | | commissioner. |
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| | A. All professional positions which | | positions and members of bargaining units and are | | transferred to the department from units of State Government | other than the State Development Office shall | | current status, including their rights as members of | bargaining units. Classified | | the administration of the tax incentive programs and | classified, clerical and other nonprofessional staff shall | | must be hired pursuant to the Civil Service Law for | | classified state employees. |
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| | | B. The commissioner may employ or engage such outside | | technical or professional consultants as may be necessary or | | appropriate to assist the office in carrying out its | | functions and may enter into contracts with other boards, | | commissions, departments and divisions of the State, with | | the University of Maine System or with private entities to | assist himhis | | commissioner's duties under this chapter. |
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| | | Sec. 5. 5 MRSA c. 383, sub-c. 1-B, as amended, is repealed. |
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| | | Sec. 6. 5 MRSA §13105, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 673, Pt. M, | | §8, is amended to read: |
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| | | 1. Office established. The commissioner shall establish the | | Office of Innovation, referred to in this subchapter as "the | | office." The office shall encourage and coordinate the State's | | research and development activities to foster collaboration among | | the State's higher education and nonprofit research institutions |
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