S.P. 519 - L.D. 1603
Resolve, to Foster Economic Growth through the Recognition and Development of Maine's Franco-American Resource
Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, a substantial percentage of Maine's citizens are Franco-American by heritage, and the language and the culture of Maine's Franco-Americans survives and is strong throughout the State, from Biddeford and Sanford in southern Maine, Lewiston and Waterville in central Maine to Madawaska, Fort Kent and the St. John Valley in the far North; and
Whereas, the people of Maine wish to encourage the development of the Franco-American resource to the benefit of all Maine citizens, and the Franco-American Center at the University of Maine at Orono has been a leading voice for the recognition of Maine's Franco-American heritage and the development of its Francophone resource; and
Whereas, the Maine business community has become increasingly active in efforts to stimulate trade between Maine and Quebec, through an effort known as "Co-Entreprise," a cooperative venture between Maine and Quebec businesses headed by the Maine Chamber and Business Alliance; and
Whereas, these efforts, in addition to many others, have provided Maine with the opportunity to establish the national headquarters of the American Association of the Forum Francophone Des Affaires, an international chamber of commerce for the French-speaking world; and
Whereas, all of the people of the State of Maine stand to benefit by the expansion of international trade through the American Association of the Forum Francophone Des Affaires and the many other ongoing efforts to strengthen and utilize the resources of Maine's Franco-American communities; and
Whereas, this legislation establishes the Commission to Study the Development of Maine's Franco-American Resource and is required to submit its report to the Second Regular Session of the 118th Legislature by December 1, 1997; and
Whereas, in order for the appointments to be made, the commission to be convened and the report to be submitted in a timely fashion and in light of other provisions of this legislation designed to take advantage of opportunities now available to the people of the State of Maine, this legislation must take effect immediately; 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 the Commission to Study the Development of Maine's Franco-American Resource, referred to in this resolve as the "commission," is established; and be it further
Sec. 2. Issues. Resolved: That the commission shall study and report on the issues associated with Maine's Franco-American community, particularly with regard to economic development opportunities available to Maine because of its Franco-American resource. The scope of the commission's study and report includes, but is not limited to:
1. An analysis of demographic trends in Maine's Franco-American community;
2. An analysis of the language skills, educational attainment levels and technical capabilities of Maine's Franco-American community;
3. An analysis of employment patterns among Maine citizens with Francophone capabilities and opportunities available to Maine businesses through utilization of the Francophone resource;
4. An analysis of the interrelationship between cultural, civic, business and community organizations in Franco-American communities throughout the State, and the maintenance and development of the Franco-American resource;
5. An analysis of the business opportunities available to Maine citizens in industries likely to benefit through international trade with the Francophone world, including, but not limited to, the agriculture, forest products, tourism, financial services and high-technology industries; and
6. An analysis of the opportunities available to Maine citizens to utilize the Francophone resource to develop a competitive advantage in their markets, wherever those markets are located, particularly with regard to the agriculture, forest products, tourism, financial services and high-technology industries; and be it further
Sec. 3. Membership. Resolved: That the commission consist of 27 members appointed as follows:
1. Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate and two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House;
2. Two representatives of the Franco-American Center at the University of Maine at Orono;
3. Two representatives of the American Association of the Forum Francophone Des Affaires;
4. Six representatives of business and civic communities from areas of the State with a significant Franco-American population, including at least one each from Aroostook County, Penobscot County, Kennebec County, Androscoggin County and York County;
5. Four representatives from the academic community, including one each from the University of Maine System, the Maine Technical College System, Maine's private kindergarten through grade 12 school systems and Maine's public kindergarten through grade 12 school systems;
6. Five representatives of the businesses and industries likely to be benefited by the development of Maine's Franco-American resource, including one each from the agriculture, forest products, tourism, financial services and high-technology industries;
7. One representative of the Maine International Trade Center;
8. One representative of the Maine Chamber and Business Alliance;
9. One representative of "Co-Entreprise"; and
10. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or the commissioner's designee, who is an ex officio member.
With the exception of the ex officio member, the members of the commission are selected as follows: the President of the Senate shall make 9 appointments, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall make 9 appointments and the Governor shall make 8 appointments. The commission shall, at its first meeting, select a member to serve as chair; and be it further
Sec. 4. Appointments. 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 upon making their appointments. When the appointment of all members is complete, the Chair of the Legislative Council shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission no later than 2 months from the effective date of this resolve; and be it further
Sec. 5. Staffing. Resolved: That the commission shall request staffing and clerical assistance from the Maine Franco-American Center at the University of Maine and, if funding permits, the commission may employ staff as needed and may contract for administrative, professional, legislative drafting and clerical services. The commission shall utilize the expertise of the Maine Franco-American Center during the course of its work, but the center will not be involved in the final decision for locating the national headquarters for the American Association of the Forum Francophone Des Affaires; and be it further
Sec. 6. Reimbursement. Resolved: That the commission members who are Legislators are entitled to receive the legislative per diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses upon application to the Legislative Council for each day's attendance at meetings of the commission. The Executive Director of the Legislative Council shall administer the commission's budget. Other members of the commission are entitled to reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses upon application to the University of Maine System; and be it further
Sec. 7. Chair. Resolved: That the Chair of the Legislative Council shall call the first meeting of the commission as soon as funding permits. At the first meeting or a subsequent meeting, the commission may select a vice-chair from among its members and establish programmatic and structural committees; and be it further
Sec. 8. Meetings. Resolved: That the commission may meet up to 5 times; and be it further
Sec. 9. Funding. Resolved: That the commission may seek, accept and expend outside sources of funding to carry out the commission's activities. The Legislative Council shall administer any outside funds acquired for the purposes of this resolve; and be it further
Sec. 10. Report. Resolved: That the commission shall present its findings and any recommended legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 118th Legislature by December 1, 1997; and be it further
Sec. 11. Appropriation. Resolved: That the following funds are appropriated from the General Fund to carry out the purposes of this resolve.
1997-98
LEGISLATURE
Commission to Study the Development of Maine's Franco-American Resource
Personal Services $1,100
All Other 1,500
Provides funds for the per diem and expenses of legislative members and miscellaneous costs, including printing, of the Commission to Study the Development of Maine's Franco-American Resource.
LEGISLATURE __________
TOTAL $2,600
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
Education and General Activities - University of Maine System
All Other $47,400
Provides funds to the Maine Franco-American Center at the University of Maine to support its participation in the commission's work and for the expenses of members who are not Legislators.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM __________
TOTAL $47,400
__________
TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS $50,000
; and be it further
Sec. 12. Allocation. Resolved: That the following funds are allocated from Other Special Revenue to carry out the purposes of this resolve.
1997-98
LEGISLATURE
Commission to Study the Development of Maine's Franco-American Resource
All Other $500
Provides a base allocation to authorize expenditures in the event that outside sources of funding are received to support the expenses of the Commission to Study the Development of Maine's Franco-American Resource.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.
Effective June 12, 1997.
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