PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act Prohibiting Public Entities from Contracting with and Investing in Companies That Boycott the State of Israel
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §1523  is enacted to read:
§ 1523. Boycotts of Israel
 
1.  Definitions.     As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
A.  "Boycott" means refusing to deal with, terminating a business activity with or engaging in other actions that are intended to reduce commercial relations in a discriminatory manner.
 
2.  Prohibition on boycotts of Israel or contracts or grants with persons that boycott Israel; exceptions.     Except for a boycott under 50 United States Code App. Section 2407(a) (2009), any public entity including the State, its agencies, its departments and any of its subdivisions may not boycott the State of Israel, Israeli-controlled territories or persons or entities doing business with the State of Israel or Israeli-controlled territories or contract with or provide a grant to a person for funding, services, supplies or information technology unless the contract or grant includes written certification that the person is not currently engaged in, and agrees for the duration of the contract or grant not to engage in, a boycott of the State of Israel.
 
This subsection does not apply to a contract if the person supplies the services, supplies or information technology for at least 20% less than the lowest eligible competitor or for a contract or grant with a total potential value of less than $1,000.
 
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits any public entity, including the State and any of its agencies or subdivisions, from boycotting the State of Israel or contracting with or giving a grant to a person that is boycotting the State of Israel and requires all contracts and grants by a state agency or subdivision to certify that the person awarded the contract or grant will not boycott the State of Israel for the duration of the contract or grant. This bill does not apply to a contract if the person supplies the services, supplies or information technology for at least 20% less than the lowest eligible competitor or to a contract or grant with a total potential value of less than $1,000.