Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §3, sub-§1, ¶D, as amended by PL 2003, c. 404, §2, is further amended by adding a new subparagraph (16) to read:

(16)__The Adjutant General may establish a science, mathematics and technology education improvement program known as the STARBASE Program and referred to in this subparagraph as "the program."__The Adjutant General may accept financial assistance and in-kind assistance, advances, loans, grants, gifts, contributions and other forms of financial assistance from the Federal Government or other public body or from other sources, public or private.__In order to operate the program the Adjutant General may:

(a)__Directly contract with or enter into memoranda of agreement with the Federal Government or its instrumentalities or agencies, the State or its agencies or instrumentalities or municipalities, public bodies, private corporations, partnerships, associations and individuals to operate the program; or

(b)__Employ a director and such other employees, permanent or temporary, as the Adjutant General considers appropriate, who serve at the pleasure of the Adjutant General and are not subject to the Civil Service Law.

Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,

DEPARTMENT OF

STARBASE Program

Initiative: Provides working capital to operate the STARBASE Program.

General Fund 2003-04 2004-05

All Other $0 $20,000

______

General Fund Total $0 $20,000