PART A

Sec. A-1. 5 MRSA c. 383, sub-c. 1-B is enacted to read:

SUBCHAPTER 1-B

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

§13060-G.__Internship program

1.__Program established.__An internship program is established to provide students attending college in the State with opportunities to obtain work experience in technology-based businesses within the Applied Technology Development Center System, established in section 15321, and in occupations and industries experiencing labor shortages.__The department shall administer the program.__The department shall consult with the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System, the Department of Labor and the Applied Technology Development Center System in the development of the program.__The department shall consult with the Department of Labor to define labor shortage areas for the purposes of this program and shall identify annually those industries and occupations that meet the definition.

2.__Report.__The department shall report on the progress and status of the program to any policy-making body established in state law to direct a coordinated effort to develop, realign, streamline and oversee the State's economic development policy and specific efforts to retain and attract young people, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business matters no later than January 15, 2005 and annually thereafter.

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

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF

Internship Program

Initiative: Provides funds for the internship program to provide college students with opportunities to obtain work experience in technology-based businesses and in occupations and industries experiencing labor shortages.

General Fund 2003-04 2004-05 All Other $100,000