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Amend the bill in section 2 by striking out all of §25002 (page 1, lines 21 to 34 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
‘§ 25002. Membership
The commission consists of the following members:
 
1.  Members of the Senate.     Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including one member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;
 
2.  Members of the House of Representatives.     Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature; and
 
3.  Public members.     The following members representing the public:
 
A.  A representative of a community economic development organization appointed by the President of the Senate;
 
B.  A representative of an economic policy organization appointed by the Speaker of the House;
 
C.  The district director of the Maine district office of the United States Small Business Administration, or the district director's designee;
 
D.  The president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce or its successor organization, or the president's designee;
 
E.  Two members of the public that represent racial and ethnic populations in the State, one of whom is appointed by the President of the Senate and one of whom is appointed by the Speaker of the House; and
 
F.  Three members of the public appointed by the Governor representing each of the following: the elderly, low-income people and youth.
 
The commission shall invite the participation, as a voting member, of a representative of a federally recognized Indian tribe in the State.
 
In making appointments, the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall consider and appoint residents of the State who have a knowledge of problems facing racial and ethnic populations in the State, who have experience in advocacy relating to racial and ethnic populations' issues and who provide leadership in programs or activities that improve opportunities for racial and ethnic populations. The members of the commission must be chosen from throughout the State, and the majority of members must be members of racial and ethnic populations.’
Amend the bill in section 2 in §25006 by striking out all of subsection 1 (page 2, lines 23 and 24 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘1.  Research; policy proposals.     Carrying out research necessary to determine the status of racial and ethnic populations in the State and considering policy proposals. The commission shall:
 
A.  Study income levels of and opportunities available to historically disadvantaged racial and ethnic populations in the State and examine quantitative and qualitative data associated with those populations regarding business ownership, household assets, debts and income, housing, employment and access to inherited wealth, capital and benefits; and
 
B.  Consider policy proposals to diversify business ownership to include historically disadvantaged racial and ethnic populations in the State and to bridge the gaps in wealth acquisition, including, but not limited to, proposals to:
 
(1) Develop a program to provide to aspiring and new business owners technical assistance workshops and training on topics such as the creation of business plans, accessing capital and funding and securing job training;
 
(2) Provide assistance to vendors to become registered with the State and create a clearinghouse to serve as a resource for state-registered vendors seeking government contracts; and
’
 
(3) Establish an office to coordinate the educational and technical assistance needs of emerging small businesses and to provide information to small businesses seeking to open, operate or expand their businesses;
Amend the bill in section 2 in §25006 by striking out all of subsection 6 (page 3, lines 1 and 2 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘6.  Reports.    Beginning January 1, 2019 and biennially thereafter, reporting to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the work and interests of the commission.’
Amend the bill in section 3 in the 3rd line (page 3, line 14 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "the 4 appointed" and inserting the following: 'one appointed'
Amend the bill in section 3 in the 4th line (page 3, line 15 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "2 appointed" and inserting the following: '3 appointed'
Amend the bill by adding after section 3 the following:
‘Sec. 4. Initial report. No later than March 1, 2018, the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 74-J shall submit a report that includes the commission's findings and recommendations on the commission's research and consideration of policy proposals pursuant to Title 5, section 25006, subsection 1, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.
Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Bureau of Administrative Services and Corporations 0692
 
Initiative: Provides funding for one Planning and Research Assistant I position and related costs to provide support to the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	1.000	1.000	
Personal Services	$59,540	$62,279	
All Other	$3,100	$3,242	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$62,640	$65,521	
 
’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment is the majority report of the committee. The amendment changes the membership of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations, decreasing the total membership from 17 as proposed in the bill to 15 and including Legislators in the membership. The amendment also expands the research duties of the commission to incorporate the study of income levels of and opportunities available to historically disadvantaged racial and ethnic populations in the State and the examination of data regarding business ownership, household assets, debts and income, housing, employment and access to inherited wealth, capital and benefits. It also directs the commission to consider policy proposals to diversify business ownership to include historically disadvantaged racial and ethnic populations in the State and to bridge the gaps in wealth acquisition. The amendment adds an initial report by the commission to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature focusing on the commission's research on income levels and consideration of policy proposals. The amendment also specifies a due date of January 1st for the biennial report proposed in the bill, beginning January 1, 2019. The amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section to the bill.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)