1. Conduct evaluation. By February 1, 2021, and every 4 years thereafter, the commissioner shall submit a comprehensive evaluation of state economic development investments, referred to in this section as "the evaluation," not to include programs subjected to independent evaluations required by federal programs, to the Governor and the Legislature. A. The scope of the evaluation must include research and development activities and economic development incentives in this State. [PL 2017, c. 264, §13 (NEW).] B. The evaluation must be performed by independent, objective reviewers. [PL 2017, c. 264, §13 (NEW).] C. The evaluation objectives include, but are not limited to, an assessment of: (1) The extent to which the State's portfolio of economic development investments, particularly in terms of level and types of investments, aligns with and supports the state strategic economic improvement plan; (2) The extent to which individual activities and programs, or groups of activities and programs, within the State's portfolio are contributing to the achievement of particular goals, measurable objectives and performance targets associated with the state strategic economic improvement plan; (3) How the State's portfolio of economic development investments, particularly in terms of level and types of investments, compares to investments in other states; (4) The effect of the State's economic development investments in improving the competitiveness of the State's established and emerging technology and industry sectors in regional, national and global arenas; and (5) The extent to which the overall framework for the State's economic development investments provides for sufficient transparency and accountability, effective and efficient coordination among the State's activities and programs and easy access for interested businesses and other entities. [PL 2017, c. 264, §13 (NEW).] D. The evaluation must include recommendations to the department, the Governor and the Legislature on any identified: (1) Opportunities to modify the current portfolio of state economic development investments, particularly with regard to level of investment or types of activities and programs, in order to better align resources with the state strategic economic improvement plan and more cost- effectively support achievement of goals, objectives and performance targets associated with the plan; (2) Opportunities to shift investments from economic development activities and programs to other state efforts in order to better align resources with the state strategic economic improvement plan and more cost-effectively support achievement of goals, objectives and performance targets associated with the plan; (3) Opportunities to improve transparency and accountability for state economic development investments, coordination among economic activities and programs in the portfolio or accessibility of business and other entities to those activities and programs; and (4) Areas for improvement. [PL 2017, c. 264, §13 (NEW).] E. In planning and conducting the evaluation, the department and independent reviewers may consider pertinent information available from the Maine Economic Growth Council, as established in Title 10, section 929-A, and from reviews conducted by the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, as established in Title 3, section 991. The independent reviewers may consult with the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability on accessing data, confidential or otherwise, necessary for the evaluation. [PL 2017, c. 264, §13 (NEW).] [PL 2017, c. 264, §13 (NEW).] 2. Action on evaluation recommendations. By February 1, 2021 and every 4 years thereafter, the commissioner shall present the evaluation and results from the most recent evaluation required under this section to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over economic development matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over taxation matters. The commissioner shall report to the Governor and the committees on actions planned by the department and other entities administering the programs to address the recommendations made. The committees shall also consider the independent reviewers' recommendations and may each submit a bill to the Legislature to implement recommendations. By February 1, 2023 and by February 1st every 4 years thereafter, the commissioner shall submit to the Governor, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over economic development matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over taxation matters a progress report related to the evaluation required under this section that describes the implementation status of the planned actions to address the recommendations from the prior evaluation. [PL 2023, c. 599, §1 (AMD).]
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