This Act would authorize the State to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed 11.3 million dollars ($11,300,000) for the projects at the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System, and the Maine Maritime Academy, as described below. The bonds would run for a period not longer than 10 years from the date of issue and would be backed by the full faith and credit of the State.

The University of Maine System would receive 7.8 million dollars ($7,800,000) of the bond proceeds to develop a new, freestanding biosafety level 3 laboratory facility that would include a plant and animal diagnostic laboratory and an insect identification facility to support research in the identification, monitoring and treatment of plant and animal diseases, as well as identification of insect pests and invasive species. The facility would be designed for a level of biosecurity to prevent the spread of diseases and provide for secure disposal of infectious wastes.

The Maine Community College System would receive three million dollars ($3,000,000) of the bond proceeds to expand necessary capital infrastructure improvements and for equipment, with at least one million dollars of that amount to be used for machine tool technology.

The remaining five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in bond proceeds would be used by the Maine Maritime Academy for equipment and to expand necessary infrastructure capital improvements.

If approved, the authorization of these bonds would take effect 30 days after the Governor’s proclamation of the vote.

A “YES” vote favors the issuance of up to 11.3 million dollars ($11,300,000) in general obligation bonds for the purposes described above.

A “NO” vote opposes the bond issue in its entirety.