§343-H. Clean Government Initiative








1. 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)
.]





SECTION HISTORY

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).
2015, c. 124, §1 (AMD).