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An Act To Support Realize!Maine To Attract and Retain Young People in the State's Workforce
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA c. 389,  as amended, is repealed.
Sec. 2. 10 MRSA §917-A, sub-§6  is enacted to read:
 
6.  Retain and attract young people.     The Maine Development Foundation shall bring together representatives of government, education, business and labor in a focused, coordinated effort to recommend to the Governor and the Legislature and to oversee strategies, including realigning and streamlining the State's economic development policies and resources, and specific efforts to retain and attract youth, which for the purposes of this subsection means persons 15 to 40 years of age. The Maine Development Foundation shall:
 
A.  Recommend to the Governor and Legislature and oversee and evaluate the implementation of education policies that focus on meeting the needs of the labor market and the business community and economic development priorities;
 
B.  Recommend to the Governor and Legislature and oversee and evaluate the implementation of short-term and long-term strategies to retain and attract youth by improving coordination and reducing fragmentation within and between labor, education, business and economic development sectors. Specific responsibilities in this area include:
 
(1) Recommending a comprehensive action plan for economic development and education policy initiatives specifically designed to expand opportunities for youth;
 
(2) Maintaining a publicly accessible website that is a comprehensive clearinghouse of information regarding higher education, career opportunities and jobs available in the State, including the high-growth and high-paying jobs in the State. The website must target current and prospective students ages 20 to 40 and must provide career, living, social, cultural and recreational opportunities, including professional networking and mentoring; internship programs; and outreach and recruitment for youth;
 
(3) Recommending and overseeing the implementation of an initiative to provide all high school students in the State with information about higher education and career opportunities in the State. The initiative must include information regarding public and private postsecondary education programs in the State, career paths, required education and training and lists of high-growth occupations, high-paying jobs and occupational shortages; and
 
(4) Recommending and overseeing the implementation of a program to bring volunteers from business and government to high schools throughout the State to provide students with information about career opportunities and the education required for different careers;
 
C.  Assist the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System in their development of a comprehensive plan for higher education that will meet the needs of the State's economy and business community for research and development, commercialization of products and services, emerging technologies and workforce training;
 
D.  Review the need for and develop proposals for funding to develop professional health care education and training at the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System that will increase employment opportunities throughout the State; and
 
E.  Monitor the development and implementation of initiatives undertaken by state agencies and organizations to create opportunities for youth through economic development, education, employment and other strategies.
 
Nothing in this subsection may be construed to provide the Maine Development Foundation with any authority regarding the policies and resources of the Maine Community College System or the University of Maine System or the board of trustees of either system.
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
MAINE DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
 
Maine Development Foundation
 
Initiative: Provides funds to support and increase activities, programs and outreach at the Realize!Maine program under the auspices of the Maine Development Foundation.

GENERAL FUND	2007-08	2008-09	
All Other	$100,000	$100,000	
 	  	  	
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$100,000	$100,000	

SUMMARY
This bill augments the efforts of Realize!Maine, under the auspices of the Maine Development Foundation, to retain and attract young people to live, work and recreate in Maine. The bill also repeals the "S.W.A.T. team" law and incorporates the responsibilities formerly set out in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 389 into the responsibilities of the Maine Development Foundation.