§ 26 §2006 — Establishment of State Workforce Development Board

1.
Responsibilities.
The State Workforce Development Board, referred to in this section as "the board," is established to ensure that the State's workforce development system helps Maine people and businesses compete successfully in the global economy. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:
2.
Membership.
2-A.
Membership.
The board consists of the Governor, or the Governor's designee, and the following members:
3.
Terms of members.
One third of the initial appointees shall serve for a one-year term, 1/3 of the initial appointees shall serve for a 2-year term and 1/3 shall serve for a 3-year term. All subsequent appointees shall serve 3-year terms. An appointee continues to serve until that appointee has been reappointed or a successor has been appointed.
4.
Chair and vice-chair.
The Governor shall appoint a chair from the members of the board who represent business and industry and a vice-chair from the membership of the board to serve for a one-year term. The appointment of the chair is subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters and confirmation by the Legislature. The Governor may reappoint members to serve as chair or vice-chair.
5.
Functions and duties of the council.
5-A.
Apprenticeship.
5-B.
Commission on Disability and Employment.
In addition to its other duties, the board, through its Commission on Disability and Employment, a committee created pursuant to subsection 7 and referred to in this subsection as "the standing committee," shall perform the duties of the former Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.
5-C.
Occupational information.
5-D.
Workforce development.
In addition to its other duties, the board shall perform the functions of the state board as specified in Section 101(d) in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
6.
Powers.
The board has the necessary authority to carry out the purposes of this section.
7.
Committees.
The board may establish committees as necessary to meet the strategic vision of the board and to address specific problems and issues that arise. A committee established pursuant to this subsection shall make recommendations to the full board.
8.
Meetings.
The board shall meet at such times and such places as it considers necessary. The meetings must be publicly announced and open to the general public. A majority of members of the board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
9.
Administration.
The Department of Education and the Department of Labor shall jointly administer the board. The Department of Labor is the fiscal agent for the board. Pursuant to the Commissioner of Labor's authority under section 1401‑B and to the Commissioner of Education's authority under Title 20‑A, section 253, subsection 2, the Commissioner of Labor and the Commissioner of Education may designate employees they consider necessary to carry out the State's responsibility under this section.
10.
Compensation.
Members of the board receive no compensation for their services. Reimbursement of necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties on the board, which are allowed by state law, are administered by the Department of Labor from federal or state appropriations.

Legislative History

PL 1997, c. 410, §12 (NEW). PL 1997, c. 410, §13 (AFF). PL 1997, c. 683, §§D7-10 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 6, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 20, §OO2 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 20, §OO4 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 114, §§10-13 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 545, §§4,5 (REV). PL 2003, c. 689, §B6 (REV). PL 2009, c. 12, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 491, §§9, 10 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 627, §3 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. EE, §18 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. EE, §30 (AFF). PL 2013, c. 424, Pt. A, §15 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 467, §§6, 7 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 110, §§14-19 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 259, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 246, §§3-5 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 246, §8 (AFF). PL 2023, c. 13, §§1-3 (AMD). RR 2023, c. 1, Pt. A, §24 (COR). PL 2025, c. 154, §§4-7 (AMD).