Public Law, Chapter 240, Part RRRR, 123rd Legislature, First Regular Session

Chapter 240 H.P. 383 - L.D. 499

PART RRRR

Sec. RRRR-1. 5 MRSA §12004-G, sub-§7-F, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 704, §1, is repealed.

Sec. RRRR-2. 5 MRSA c. 389, as amended, is repealed.

Sec. RRRR-3. 10 MRSA §917-A, sub-§6 is enacted to read:

6. Attract and retain youth in the State. The Maine Development Foundation shall establish and oversee an initiative to develop, recommend and implement specific strategies and efforts to attract and retain youth in this State. For the purposes of this subsection, "youth" means persons 20 to 40 years of age. The initiative must be guided by an independent steering committee selected by the Maine Development Foundation Board of Directors that is composed of youth with a diverse representation of gender, race, geography, professional sector and education and including representation from regional young persons groups and networks across the State. The Maine Development Foundation shall perform activities to advance this initiative, including but not limited to:

A. The support of regional efforts in this State to connect, attract and retain youth. Areas of support include professional and leadership development, social networking and community building and collaboration between regional groups for the purpose of promoting best practices;

B. The support and promotion of existing and emerging economic development, public policy and community initiatives that expand opportunities for youth in this State; and

C. The development and oversight of a comprehensive website linking youth to professional, educational, social, recreational, cultural and civic opportunities in this State.

Sec. RRRR-4. 30-A MRSA §4722, sub-§1, ¶Y, as amended by PL 2005, c. 644, §1, is further amended to read:

Y. Expand access to housing for young professionals and young families. The Maine State Housing Authority shall develop recommendations to create or modify programs with the goal of expanding access to housing for young professionals and young families. The Maine State Housing Authority shall specifically consider strategies to assist renters and first-time home buyers who are under 35 years of age and explore options for linking assistance levels to student loan obligations. The Maine State Housing Authority shall collaborate with the Maine Community College System, vocational high schools and community action programs to encourage the development of affordable housing in high-cost housing areas of the State.

(1) The Maine State Housing Authority shall report its findings and recommendations regarding expanded access to housing for young professionals and young families to the Future for Youth in Maine State Work Action Tactics Team established in Title 5, section 13161 Maine Development Foundation and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over housing matters no later than January 15, 2005 and annually thereafter;

Sec. RRRR-5. Report. By February 1, 2009, the Maine Development Foundation shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development matters on the progress made pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 10, section 917-A, subsection 6 to attract and retain young people in this State and to support regional efforts in this State to connect, attract and retain people 20 to 40 years of age and the foundation's use of any state funds appropriated to support these efforts across the State.

Sec. RRRR-6. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, MAINE

Development Foundation 0198

Initiative: Provides funds to support and increase activities, programs and outreach to attract and retain young people in the State within the Maine Development Foundation's responsibilities pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 10, section 917-A, subsection 6. The foundation may use the appropriated funds to support any of these efforts as long as at least 50% of the funds are used to support regional efforts across the State.

GENERAL FUND	2007-08	2008-09
All Other	$35,000	$40,000

GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$35,000	$40,000

Public Laws

123rd Legislature

First Regular Session

Chapter 240

H.P. 383 - L.D. 499