Section 343-H - Clean Government Initiative1.Initiative established; directors. The Clean Government Initiative, referred to in this section as the "initiative," is established to assist state agencies and state-supported institutions of higher learning in meeting applicable environmental compliance requirements and to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices into all state government functions. The initiative is jointly directed by the commissioner, the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services, the Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the chancellor's designee and the President of the Maine Community College System or the president's designee, referred to in this section as the "directors." [2001, c. 695, §1(AMD); 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §2(AMD); 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §4(AFF).]
1-A.State-supported institution of higher learning. For purposes of this section, "state-supported institution of higher learning" means the University of Maine System, the Maine Maritime Academy and the Maine Community College System. [2001, c. 695, §1(NEW); 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §2(AMD); 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §4(AFF).]
2.Duties; responsibilities. The directors of the initiative shall: A. Establish a coordinated state government environmental plan to ensure that: (1) All agencies and state-supported institutions of higher learning comply with state and federal environmental laws; and(2) Environmentally sustainable practices are incorporated into state government planning, operations and regulatory functions; [2001, c. 695, §1(AMD).]B. Establish metrics to measure and assess the environmental compliance and performance of state agencies and state-supported institutions of higher learning. In developing those metrics, the directors shall seek to achieve continuous improvement in environmental compliance and performance of all state agencies through: (1) Pollution prevention;(2) Improvements in energy efficiency, including facility siting, design, construction and management; and(3) Procurement of environmentally friendly commodities and services, as assessed on a life cycle basis, including technically comparable, cost-effective and reasonably available alternatives to products that may release dioxin or mercury to the environment, recycling of waste products and enhanced fleet efficiency; [2001, c. 695, §1(AMD).]C. Advise and assist state agencies and state-supported institutions of higher learning in developing environmental compliance audits and plans and in implementing those plans; [2001, c. 695, §1(AMD).]D. Advise the Governor and the Legislature in the formulation of policies for the effective achievement of initiative goals; and [2001, c. 333, §5(NEW).]E. Ensure that the capital master plan established under Title 5, section 299 is implemented in a manner consistent with the initiative. [2001, c. 333, §5(NEW).] [2001, c. 695, §1(AMD).]
3.Responsibilities of state agencies and state-supported institutions of higher learning. State agencies and state-supported institutions of higher learning shall cooperate with the directors in implementing the initiative and shall provide staff assistance and technical support upon request. In addition, each state agency and state-supported institution of higher learning shall: A. Complete or demonstrate completion of an audit of its facilities to determine compliance with applicable state and federal environmental laws; [2001, c. 333, §5(NEW).]B. [2009, c. 121, §3(RP).]C. Appoint an employee in the agency or state-supported institution of higher learning to be responsible for ensuring the development and implementation of agency activities under the initiative; and [2001, c. 695, §1(AMD).]D. Establish standards for leasing or building state facilities consistent with the initiative. [2001, c. 333, §5(NEW).] Each agency and state-supported institution of higher learning shall fund costs associated with implementing this initiative from within existing budgeted resources.
[2009, c. 121, §3(AMD).]
4.Reporting.[2015, c. 124, §1(RP).]
Amended by 2015, c. 124,§ 1, eff. 10/15/2015.2001, c. 333, § 5 (NEW) . 2001, c. 695, § 1 (AMD) . 2003, c. 20, §OO2 (AMD) . 2003, c. 20, §OO4 (AFF) . 2003, c. 551, § 4 (AMD) . 2009, c. 121, §§3, 4 (AMD) .