Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Create a Statewide Economic Development Plan

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this resolve establishes the Commission To Create a Statewide Economic Development Plan to study a number of economic development issues and create a strategic, regionally focused economic development plan; and

Whereas,  the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative session; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the Commission To Create a Statewide Economic Development Plan, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further

Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That the commission consists of 20 members appointed as follows:

1. Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;

2. Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;

3. The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the chancellor's designee;

4. The President of the Maine Community College System or the president's designee;

5. An individual representing a private research institution appointed by the Speaker of the House;

6. An individual representing a private organization focused on promoting economic growth in the State appointed by the President of the Senate;

7. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or the commissioner's designee;

8. The State Economist or the State Economist's designee;

9. The chair of the Maine Economic Growth Council or the chair's designee;

10. A representative of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce appointed by the President of the Senate;

11. A representative of a regional chamber of commerce appointed by the Speaker of the House;

12. The Commissioner of Transportation or the commissioner's designee;

13. Three members representing business or professional organizations, 2 of whom may be representatives of business or professional enterprises based outside of the State but that have or have had business interests in the State and that may include foreign nationals, appointed by the President of the Senate; and

14. Three members representing business or professional enterprises, each based in a separate region of the State, who may not be in the same industry, including at least one representing a business with fewer than 25 employees, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and be it further

Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; and be it further

Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the commission to meet and conduct its business; and be it further

Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall create a strategic, regionally focused economic development plan for the State, including:

1. An inventory and analysis of the State's competitive advantages and an inventory and analysis of factors that tend to retard economic development in the State;

2. Identification and analysis of state, national and international economic trends affecting the State's economic development;

3. Development of strategies for the promotion of business formation, expansion, recruitment and retention through aggressive marketing, international development and export assistance and any other strategies identified as advantageous that lead to more and better jobs and higher wages for all geographic regions and disadvantaged communities and populations of the State, including rural areas;

4. Development of policies and programs to further economic diversity in the State, its regions and their associated industries;

5. Stimulation of economic development and job creation in rural areas and smaller economic regions of the State, including strategies for rural marketing and the development of infrastructure, both physical and electronic, in rural areas;

6. Promotion of the successful long-term economic development of the State with increased emphasis in market research and information;

7. Plans for the generation of foreign investment in the State that creates jobs paying above-average wages and that results in reverse investment in the State, including programs that establish viable foreign markets, assist in meeting the financing requirements of export-ready firms, broaden opportunities for international joint-venture relationships, use the resources of academic and other institutions, coordinate trade assistance and facilitation services and facilitate availability of and access to education and training programs that ensure that requisite skills and competencies necessary to compete successfully in the global marketplace are taught;

8. Identification of business sectors that are of current or future importance to the State's economy and to the State's global business image and development of specific strategies to promote the development of these sectors;

9. Strategies for talent development necessary to encourage economic development growth in the State, taking into account factors such as the State's talent supply chain, education and training opportunities and available workforce; and

10. Identification of and a strategy for investing in research and development for innovation in manufacturing as well as other types of business development; and be it further

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Department of Economic and Community Development shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further

Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than January 15, 2018, the commission shall submit a preliminary report, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development in the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature. No later than October 1, 2018, the commission shall submit a final report that includes its findings and recommendations, which may include suggested legislation to implement the plan under section 5 of this resolve and to establish a permanent commission to monitor the progress of the plan, for presentation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over economic development matters in the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This resolve establishes the Commission To Develop a Statewide Economic Development Plan.