CHAPTER 681
S.P. 427 - L.D. 1325
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §535, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 713, §1, is amended to read:
3. Powers. The network manager may:
A. Negotiate and enter into contracts for professional consulting, research and other services; and
B. To the extent permitted by the service level agreement between the network manager and the data custodian, have access to confidential information if it is necessary to carry out the duties of the network manager or the purposes of InforME. The network manager is subject to the same limitations and penalties as a data custodian concerning the use and disclosure of confidential information.; and
C. Designate a town, city or municipality as an "InforME Goldstar Community" if the network manager believes that town, city or municipality provides exemplary on-line services for persons seeking to establish businesses in the State, including but not limited to on-line application and submission of forms by persons seeking licensure and live on-line assistance during normal business hours for questions concerning the establishment of a business.
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §56, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 96, §1, is amended to read:
1. Membership. The board consists of 5 members who are owners, operators or officers of businesses operating in the State. The members, at least 3 of whom must represent businesses with fewer than 50 employees, are appointed by the Governor. In selecting the members of the board, the Governor shall make every effort to ensure that different regions of the State are represented. Prior to making final appointments of members to the board, the Governor or the Governor's designee shall present the appointments to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development matters. No member of the board may be an officer or employee of State Government.
Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §13031, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 875, Pt. L, §§2 and 4, is amended to read:
2. Commission. "Commission" means the Maine Small Business and Entrepreneurship Commission.
Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §13032, as amended by PL 2001, c. 142, §1, is further amended to read:
§13032. Maine Small Business and Entrepreneurship Commission established
The Maine Small Business and Entrepreneurship Commission is established as an independent commission within the department to evaluate and coordinate small business and entrepreneurial programs, contract with the administrative unit and exercise other powers and responsibilities as provided in this chapter.
Sec. 5. 5 MRSA §13033, as amended by PL 2001, c. 142, §2, is further amended to read:
The commission consists of 7 10 members: the Chief Executive Officer of the Finance Authority of Maine; the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development; the House and Senate 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.
Sec. 6. Additional InforME services. The InforME network manager, as described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, section 535, in conjunction with the InforME board, as described in Title 1, section 534, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Department of Labor, the Department of Human Services and Maine Revenue Services, shall enable as part of the InforME system, no later than January 1, 2006, on-line application and submission of forms by persons seeking licensure as businesses through the "Business Licensing Assistant" program. Additionally, the Department of Economic and Community Development, with technical assistance from the InforME network manager, shall provide live on-line assistance during normal business hours for questions concerning the establishment of a business in this State.
The services required by this section may be classified "premium services," as defined in Title 1, section 532. The subscription fee for premium services or transaction fees may be adjusted to accommodate the services required by this section. Any additional costs to agencies or departments as a result of this section must be absorbed by those agencies and departments within existing budgeted resources.
Effective July 30, 2004, unless otherwise indicated.
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