Resolve, To Encourage Relocation of Working Professionals

Sec. 1. Department of Economic and Community Development directed to design and implement a one-year pilot program. Resolved: That the Department of Economic and Community Development shall design and implement a one-year pilot program to encourage remote workers located outside of the State to relocate to Maine. The pilot program, known as the New Remote Worker Grant Program and referred to in this resolve as "the program," begins January 1, 2020 and operates through December 31, 2020. The department shall develop procedures for implementing the program, including:

1. Identifying workers who are full-time employees of a business with its location or primary place of business outside Maine who become full-time residents of Maine on or after January 1, 2020 and who perform the majority of employment duties remotely from a home office or a coworking space located in Maine;

2. Certifying the actual costs the workers identified in subsection 1 incur that are necessary for relocation to Maine or for the performance of employment duties, including one or more of the following: computer software and hardware, broadband access or upgrade and membership in a coworking or similar workspace;

3. Awarding grants under the program for the reimbursement of the certified costs of workers under subsection 2 on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the availability of funding, not to exceed $125,000 total funds or $2,500 per individual;

4. Promoting awareness of the program; and

5. Adopting measurable goals, performance measures and an audit strategy to assess the use and performance of the program.

Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Economic and Community Development shall report its findings and recommendations for continuation of the pilot program under section 1 no later than February 1, 2021 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over innovation, development, economic advancement and business matters and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor and housing matters. Each joint standing committee may report out a bill based on the report to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.

summary

This resolve directs the Department of Economic and Community Development to design and implement a one-year pilot program to encourage remote workers to relocate to Maine. The pilot program, the New Remote Worker Grant Program, will award grants of up to $2,500 per qualifying individual and up to $125,000 in total funds for qualifying expenses. The resolve directs the department to report back to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over innovation, development, economic advancement and business matters and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor and housing matters and gives these committees authority to report out legislation based on the department's report.