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An Act To Provide an Exception to the Pine Tree Development Zone Requirements for Seafood Processing Businesses
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §5250-R, sub-§6  is enacted to read:
 
6.  Seafood processing business.     "Seafood processing business" means a business that processes any living marine organism caught or harvested from the sea or raised and harvested in aquaculture. For the purposes of this subsection, "aquaculture," "marine organism" and "process" have the same meaning as defined in Title 12, section 6001.
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §5250-U  is enacted to read:
§ 5250-U.  Exceptions for seafood processing businesses
 
1.  Establishment of seafood processing business.     The commissioner may certify a business that does not otherwise qualify as a qualified Pine Tree Development Zone business pursuant to section 5250-I, subsection 17 or that does not locate in a Pine Tree Development Zone as qualified to receive Pine Tree Development Zone benefits if that business:
 
A.  Is a for-profit business that makes a written commitment to expand or establish a seafood processing business within the State;
 
B.  Makes a written commitment to meet the following employment criteria:
 
(1) Employment of at least 8 employees whose compensation, including benefits, calculated on a calendar year basis is equal to or greater than $40,000, including a retirement program subject to the federal Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and group health coverage; and
 
(2) Employment of at least 50 employees whose compensation, including benefits, calculated on a calendar year basis is equal to or greater than $30,000; and
 
C.  Makes a written commitment to invest a minimum of $500,000 in expanding or establishing its seafood processing business within the State.
 
2.  Application for benefits.     A seafood processing business may apply to the commissioner for certification to receive Pine Tree Development Zone benefits pursuant to subsection 1. An application must include, but is not limited to, a detailed narrative description of the seafood processing business's plans to establish or expand a seafood processing business and goals for achieving the requirements listed under subsection 1 and a description of resources to be committed, including a related timeline for achieving these goals. Upon review and determination by the commissioner that the business satisfies the requirements under subsection 1, the commissioner shall issue a certificate to the seafood processing business for qualification for Pine Tree Development Zone benefits.
 
3.  Sunset.     Applications for Pine Tree Development Zone benefits under this section must be received by the commissioner by June 30, 2011.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides a new exception category for qualification for Pine Tree Development Zone benefits for a seafood processing business that makes certain written commitments. The process for qualifying for this exception and the conditions for meeting those qualifications are similar to those that presently exist for manufacturing businesses in order for them to qualify for Pine Tree Development Zone benefits under circumstances in which they would not otherwise be qualified.