BRUNSWICK

State Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, is again representing Sagadahoc County and the town of Dresden after reclaiming her seat in November. She is also the director of program and policy development at New Ventures Maine, an organization that offers tuition-free classes and helps prepare individuals for new careers and businesses.

Speaking with The Times Record, Vitelli explained some of the bills she’s proposing in the 128th Legislature to help Mainers join the workforce.

“The big one is one that I’ve worked with (Sen.) Brownie Carson on is ‘An Act To Expand Competitive Skills Scholarships and Strengthen Maine’s Workforce Development Programs.’ It really grew out of what both of us were hearing during our canvassing door to door from people — both employers who needed skilled workers and individuals who needed to upgrade their skills for new jobs,” said Vitelli.

Expand program

While the bill’s final language is not out of the Reviser’s Office yet, Vitelli explained that it would expand the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program and strengthen Maine’s other workforce development programs.

“The (Competitive Skills Scholarship Program) aims to help people, particularly who are unemployed or underemployed, to go back to school and get the skills that they need,” Vitelli said. “So it’s tied to both people who need the skills and industries that are projected to grow and that are high wage/high skill. That’s what we wanted to build off of by really doubling the impact of that program.”

Her bill would also expand the definition of a growth industry in Maine, she added, allowing more jobs and skill-sets to fall under the program.

“That was one of the aspects — just broaden and be a little more creative in how we assess where Maine’s economy is going and where we need more skilled workers,” said Vitelli.

Student loans

A second part of the bill would encourage match savings programs. Vitelli is also sponsoring a Student Loan Bill of Rights and a Tuition Integrity Act, aimed at ensuring that students aren’t taken advantage of and know what they’re buying.

“It’s putting requirements on both loan providers — that’s the Student Loan Bill of Rights — and the Tuition Integrity Act is really making sure that educational institutions, and particularly for-profit institutions, are upfront in describing the educational programs that they offer and what the benefits of those are,” said Vitelli.

Another bill Vitelli sponsored would help get more regulatory information out to small businesses that either don’t know how or don’t have time to get in compliance with the law.

“It’s business coaching and it’s business counseling,” she said. “The idea here is to get more technical assistance out into the field for those businesses, and one of the ways to do that is to make sure that the people who provide the technical assistance work in partnership with other entities that are on the ground that can reach out to these businesses.”

Other bills

Beyond the bills that she’s proposed for the legislative session, Vitelli will also be working on various bills coming through the Marine Resources Committee, which she was assigned to. She also stated that a major concern for her through the budget process was avoiding property tax increases.

“I’m certainly going to pay attention to the governor’s budget proposal and some of the tax implications that are in there,” said Vitelli. “I’ll be looking to make sure that the budget that we end up with is fair and balanced and that it does not add to the burdens of property tax owners.”

She’ll also be keeping her eye on municipal revenue sharing and property tax exemption bills to find ways to not put a greater load on property taxpayers.

nstrout@timesrecord.com

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