PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
Amend the amendment in Part D in section 6 in that part designated "DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT" in that part relating to "Maine Technology Institute" in the blocked paragraph in the 5th line (page 9, line 22 in amendment) by inserting after the following: "allocated to" the following: 'biomedical research,'
Amend the amendment by inserting after Part H the following:
PART I
‘
Sec. I-1. Bond fund award process and criteria. Funds allocated by the Maine Technology Institute to biomedical research pursuant to Part D, section 6 of this Act must be awarded on the basis of the eligibility requirements and criteria contained in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, sections 13103 and 13104. Funds allocated to all targeted sectors, as provided in Part D, section 6 of this Act, must be awarded in accordance with criteria to be established by the Maine Technology Institute pursuant to rule-making proceedings. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
PART J
Sec. J-1. 5 MRSA §13103, sub-§1, ¶B,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2001, c. 196, §3, is amended to read:
 
B. "Eligible institution" means a Maine-based private nonprofit biomedical research institution or academic medical center or medical school that, as of July 1, 2001:
 
(1) Performs competitive biomedical research in on-site, wetbench biomedical research laboratories in the State, as evidenced by publications in recognized peer review journals; and
 
(2) Receives or expends funds in the State from federal agencies or specified grant sources for the purpose of producing peer-reviewed biomedical research in on-site, wetbench biomedical research laboratories.
 
For purposes of this paragraph, "wetbench" has the meaning generally ascribed to that term by the biomedical research community and refers to laboratories that use solutions or cell extracts and biological reagents.
Sec. J-2. 5 MRSA §13103, sub-§1, ¶F,  as enacted by PL 2001, c. 196, §4, is amended to read:
 
F. "Specified grant sources" means a federal agency, a nonprofit foundation, private company or corporation, a voluntary membership organization such as the American Cancer Society, or an out-of-state educational university, that, as of July 1, 2001, issues grants or contracts for the purpose of producing peer-reviewed biomedical research when the grantee retains complete editorial control over the content of the research performed.
Sec. J-3. 5 MRSA §13103, sub-§1, ¶G,  as enacted by PL 2001, c. 196, §4, is amended to read:
 
G. "Medical school" means a state-based private nonprofit medical school that, as of July 1, 2001, is authorized to grant a doctorate degree in osteopathic or allopathic medicine and is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association or its successor or the Liaison Committee on Medical Education or its successor.
Sec. J-4. 5 MRSA §13104, sub-§2,  as enacted by PL 2001, c. 196, §9, is amended to read:
 
2. Board membership.   The board consists of 79 members appointed as follows:
 
A. Four persons, appointed by the Governor and nominated by a statewide biomedical research coalition;
 
B. Two members, appointed by the Governor, who are distinguished and credentialed in the type of biomedical research that is performed by eligible institutions defined in section 13103, subsection 1; and
 
C. The commissioner or the commissioner's designee.;
 
D.  The Director of the Office of Innovation; and
 
E. One member of the Maine Technology Institute, appointed by the Maine Technology Institute.’
Amend the amendment by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment adds biomedical research as a field to which the funds allocated for research, development and commercialization must be used for by the Maine Technology Institute. The amendment also adds a section indicating how the Maine Technology Institute must use the funds that are designated for biomedical research. The amendment also amends the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 13103 to broaden eligibility under the Maine Biomedical Research Program by striking a limiting date. The amendment also changes the membership of the Maine Biomedical Research Board by adding the Director of the Office of Innovation within the Department of Economic and Community Development to the board and adding a member of the Maine Technology Institute as a member of the board.