Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period in order to ensure the most efficient and effective response possible by the State to the events in the Katahdin region regarding the Great Northern Paper, Inc. paper mills; 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 enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §13056, sub-§5, ¶C, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, §§17 and 19, is amended to read:

C. Market the State of Maine and its communities as suitable areas for business development; and

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §13056, sub-§6, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, §§17 and 19, is amended to read:

B. Other community planning and development assistance programs of the State Planning Office; and

Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §13056, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, §§17 and 19, is amended to read:

7. Contract for services. When contracting for services, the department, to the maximum extent feasible, shall seek to use the State's private sector resources in conducting studies, providing services and preparing publications.; and

Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §13056, sub-§8 is enacted to read:

8.__Lead agency for response of state agencies to certain events.__Be the lead agency for the State in coordinating the response of state agencies to an event that causes the Department of Labor to carry out rapid-response activities as described in 29 United States Code, Sections 2801 to 2872 (2002).

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