Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
                    FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2021
Legislative Document                                                                           No. 1555
H.P. 1160                                                       House of Representatives, April 22, 2021
            An Act To Fund Broadband Internet Infrastructure for
            Marginalized Groups in the State
    Received by the Clerk of the House on April 20, 2021. Referred to the Committee on
Energy, Utilities and Technology pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to
Joint Rule 401.
                                                                                    ROBERT B. HUNT
                                                                                               Clerk
Presented by Representative TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Representatives: BERRY of Bowdoinham, EVANS of Dover-Foxcroft,
GROHOSKI of Ellsworth, KESSLER of South Portland, Senators: LAWRENCE of York,
VITELLI of Sagadahoc.
                                        Printed on recycled paper
 1   Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
 2       Sec. 1. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
 3   allocations are made.
 4   ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
 5   Office of Broadband Development Z245
 6   Initiative: Appropriates funds to the ConnectMaine Authority for the provision of
 7   broadband Internet infrastructure to benefit marginalized groups, including historically
 8   disadvantaged racial, indigenous and tribal communities, individuals who were formerly
 9   incarcerated or are unhoused, individuals in substance use disorder recovery and low-
10   income individuals. The ConnectMaine Authority shall consult with organizations
11   representing these marginalized groups when making determinations regarding the
12   distribution of these funds.
13   GENERAL FUND                                                    2021-22        2022-23
14    All Other                                                  $15,000,000             $0
15                                                               __________      __________
16   GENERAL FUND TOTAL                                          $15,000,000             $0
17
13                                        SUMMARY
18
14       This bill appropriates $15,000,000 from the General Fund to the ConnectMaine
19
15   Authority for the provision of broadband Internet infrastructure to benefit marginalized
20
16   groups. The ConnectMaine Authority is directed to consult with organizations representing
21
17   marginalized groups, including historically disadvantaged racial, indigenous and tribal
22
18   communities, individuals who were formerly incarcerated or are unhoused, individuals in
23
19   substance use disorder recovery and low-income individuals, when making determinations
24
20   regarding the distribution of these funds.
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