An Act To Encourage Voluntary Efficiency in Maine's School Systems and Related Costs Savings
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1921
Committee Amendment CA_A-HA_D_H960 (House)

HOUSE 
AMENDMENT "P" to COMMITTEE 
AMENDMENT 
"A" to H. P • 
1422, L.D. 1921, Bill, "An Act To Encourage Voluntary Efficiency 
in Maine's School Systems and Related Costs Savings" 
Amend the amendment by striking out everything after the 
first indented paragraph after the title and inserting in its 
place the fOllowing: 
'Sec. 1. S MRSA §12004-I, sub-§7S-C is enacted to read: 
1.5.:=C.... 
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Government 
Educational 
Efficiency 
Advisory 
Group 
Legislative 
Per Diem 
and Expenses 
for Legis-
lators and 
Expenses Only 
for Certain 
Members 
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA c.114 is enacted to read: 
CBAP".rEB 114 
IRTERGOVERHMENTAL COOPERATION 
§2181. Educational EfficiencY Adyiso~ Group 
The Educational Efficiency Advisory Group. 
established by 
Title 5. section 12004-1. subsection 75-C and referred to in this 
chapter as "the advisory group." shall work on ways to improve 
communication 
and 
cooperation 
between 
schools. 
school 
administrative units 
and other units of 
local 
and 
regional 
government and promote efficient and cost-effective delivery of 
educational services for children in this State. 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
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HOUSE 
AMENDMENT .. ]I.. to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H. P . 
L.D. 1921 
1422, 
1. 
Advisory group membership. 
The advisory group consists 
of the following 15 members: 
A. 
One member of the Senate appointed by the President of 
the Senate: 
B. 
One member of the House of Representatives who is not a 
member of the Sarne political party as the Senator appointed 
under paragraph A appointed by the Speaker of the House: 
c. 
The Commissioner of Education or a 
designee of the 
commissioner: 
D. 
Ahe Director of the State Planning Office within the 
ExecutivQ Department or a designee of the dirQctor: 
E. Two mQmbers representing elected school boards appointed 
by thQ GOvQrnor from a list of nominees provided by the 
Maine School Board Association: 
F. 
Two 
members 
representing 
superintendents 
of 
schools 
appointed by the Governor from a list of nominees provided 
by an association of Maine school superintendQnts; 
G. 
AWo mQmbers repnsenting school principals appointed by 
the 
Governor 
from 
a 
list of 
nomineQs 
provided 
by 
the 
professional division of the Maine Principals' Association: 
H. Two members representing kindergarten to grade 12 public 
school teachers appointed by the Governor from a list of 
nomineQs provided by the Maine Education Association: 
It 
Two 
members 
of 
the 
public 
who 
have 
experience 
or 
expertisQ in the arQas of educational research or programs. 
intergovernmQntal 
relations. 
public 
sQrvice 
dQlivery 
or 
systems integration appointed by thQ Governor: and 
J t 
One member who is a parent of a student in a public 
school in this State with a student population of less than 
appointed by the Governor. 
In selecting members of the advisory group. the Governor shall 
make every effort to ensure that different regions of the State 
are representQd and that schools. school administrative units and 
municipalitiQs of various sizes are fairly represented. 
2. 
Chairs. 
The members of the advisory group shall select 
from their mQmbership a chair or chairs of the advisory group. 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
«Ai 
'i.i 
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HOUSE AMENDMENT " :D" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H. P . 
L.D. 1921 
1422, 
3. 
Terms of appointment. 
The terms of appointment are as 
follows. 
A. 
Of the initial gubernatorial appointments, 4 must be for 
terms of 3 years. 4 must be for terms of 2 years and 3 must 
be for terms of one year as determined by the Governor. 
B. 
Subseguent gupernatorial appointments must be for terms 
of 3 years, except that if a member is unable to complete 
the term, the Governor shall appoint a person to serve out 
the remainder of the unexpired term. 
C. 
The term for an elected official must be for the term of 
office of the person appointed. 
D. 
A member who is a gubernatorial appointee mAY not serve 
for more than 6 years. 
A member may continue to serve until 
a replacement is designated. 
4. Duties. 
The advisory group shall: 
A. 
Study ways to reduce duplication and improve efficiency 
between and among schools. school administrative units and 
other units gf 19cal ggvernment; 
B. Prgmgte ~ommunication. cggperatign and efficient delivery 
of 
educational 
services, 
including cgllecting data 
and 
repgrting 
on 
current 
efforts 
by 
schools 
and 
school 
administrative 
units 
to 
contrgl 
costs 
and 
improve 
efficiencies; 
C. 
Design and propose processes by which the State may 
offer 
guidance. 
technical 
support 
and 
incentives 
to 
enc9urage efficiency of educational service deliyery: 
D. 
Work with schools. school administrative units and other 
units of local government to design and implement pilot 
programs that result in cost sayings or improyed seryices; 
E. Identify efficient and effective management practices and 
make this information available to the public: 
F. 
Prgpgse legislation for submission to the Legislature on 
or 
befgre 
December 
1st 
annually 
to 
implement 
any 
recgmmendations of the advisory group: and 
G. 
Report 
to 
the 
joint 
standing 
committee 
of 
the 
Legislature 
having 
jurisdiction 
oyer 
education 
matters 
annually in January on the activities and effectiveness of 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
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em! 
HOUSE AMENDMENT II])" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H. P. 1422, 
L.O. 1921 
the advisory group and recommend changes to the advisory 
group's organizational structure. if any. 
5. 
Meetings. 
The adyisory group shall meet at least 4 
times a year and may not meet more than 8 times a year. 
6. 
Quorum; actions. 
A quorum is a majority of the members 
of the advisory group. 
An affirmatiye yote of the majority of 
the members present at a meeting is required for any action. 
7. 
Attendance. 
If a member of the adyisory group fails 
more than one time to notify the chair about an absence from a 
meeting. 
the 
original 
appointing 
authority 
may 
a,ppoint 
a 
replacement for that member. 
8. 
Staff assistance. The Department of Education shall 
provide staff and support seryices for the advisory group from 
within existing resources of the department. 
9. 
funding. 
The advisory group is authorized to seek, 
accept and expend funding to carry out the adyisory group's 
program actiyities, subject to APproyal by the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature haying jurisdiction oyer education 
matters. 
All funds accepted must be forwarded to the Executiye 
Director of the Legislatiye Council, who sha1l administer any 
funds received by the adyisory group. 
10. 
Compensation. 
Legislatiye 
members 
of the 
adyisory 
group are entitled to receiye the legislatiye per diem as defined 
in Title 3. section 2 and reimbursement for expenses according to 
Title 5. section 12Q04-1. subsection 7S-C. 
Public members not 
otherwise compensated by tbeir employers or other entities that 
they represent are entitled to receiye reimbursement of necessary 
expenses incurred for their attendance at authorized meetings of 
the adxisory groyp. 
Sec. 3. Report on strategies to deal with rising r.xed costs for schools 
and school administrative units. 
The Educational Efficiency Advisory 
Group established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, 
section 2181 shall undertake a study of rising costs over which 
local school administrative units and municipalities have little 
direct control, including, but not limited to: 
1. 
Employee 
health 
insurance 
and 
other 
employee 
benefit-related costs; 
2. 
Worker's compensation and other employer-related costs; 
3. 
Liability and other insurance-related costs; 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
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HOUSE 
AMENDMENT "V" to COMMITTEE 
AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1422, 
L.D. 1921 
4. 
Fuel and other energy-related costs; 
5. 
Maintenance and other facility-related costs; 
6. 
The system of learning results as established in Title 
20-A, 
section 
6209 
and 
local 
assessment 
and 
other 
state 
mandate-related costs; and 
7. 
The costs associated with the federal No Child Left 
Behind 
Act 
of 
2001, 
special 
education 
and 
other 
federal 
mandate-related costs. 
The Educational Efficiency Advisory Group shall prepare and 
submit a report by April 1, 2005 to the First Regular Session of 
the 122nd Legislature containing its findings and recommendations 
with regard to strategies for controlling the costs specified in 
subsections 1 to 7. 
Sec. 
4. 
Appropriations 
and 
allocations. 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
LEGISLA'1'URE 
Legislature 
The 
following 
Initiative: 
Provides funds for the per diem and expenses of the 
legislative members of the Educational Efficiency Advisory Group. 
General Fund 
Personal Services 
All Other 
General Fund Total 
Legislature 
2003-04 
$0 
o 
$0 
2004-05 
$880 
$1, 680 
Initiative: 
Allocates 
funds 
in 
the 
event 
that 
additional 
dedicated revenue is received to carry out the advisory group I s 
program activities. 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Personal Services 
Other Special Revenue Funds Total 
LEGISLA'1'URE 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
2003-04 
$0 
$0 
2003-04 
2004-05 
$500 
$500 
2004-05 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
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HOUSE 
AMENDMENT ·Pll to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
"A" to H.P. 1422, 
L.D. 1921 
General Fund 
OT.BER Special Revenue Funds 
DEPAR"DIERT 1.'O'.rAL -
ALL FORDS 
SUMMARY 
$0 
o 
$0 
$1,680 
$2,180' 
This amendment creates the Educational Efficiency Advisory 
Group to foster communication and cooperation between schools, 
school administrative units and other units of local and regional 
government and to promote efficient and cost-effective delivery 
of educational services for children in Maine. 
SPONSORED BY: 
(Representative 
TOWN: 
Rockport 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
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BWEi 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations! Allocations 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Revenue 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Transfers 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 04127/04 ;l;Yae 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD 1921 
An Act To Encourage Voluntary Efficiency in Maine's School Systems 
and Related Costs Savings 
LR 2782(09) 
Fiscal Note for House Amendment" "to Committee Amendment" " 
Sponsor: Rep. Bowen 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2003-04 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
2004-05 
$1,680 
$1,680 
($3,626,553) 
$500 
Projections 
2005-06 
$1,680 
$1,680 
($7,532,280) 
$0 
Projections 
2006-07 
$1,680 
$1,680 
($15,945,964) 
$0 
($3,627,053) 
($7,532,280) 
($15,945,964) 
This amendment increases the General Fund cost of the bill by $1,680 per year beginning in fiscal year 2004-05. This 
amendment also decreases the Other Special Revenue Funds cost ofthe bill by $3,626,553 in fiscal year 2004-05. 
As amended, the Legislature will require a General Fund appropriation of $1,680 annually beginning in fiscal year 
2004-05 for the per diem and expenses of legislative members of the Educational Efficiency Advisory Group. As 
amended, the bill also authorizes the advisory group to seek outside sources of funding to support its activities. The 
bill includes an Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $500 in fiscal year 2004-05 to establish a base allocation to 
authorize expenditures of dedicated revenue in the event that funds are received to support the activities of the 
advisory group. 
LR2782(9) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 2 
As amended, this bill requires the Department of Education to provide staff and support services for the advisory 
group within existing resources. This legislation also allows non-legislative members to receive reimbursement of 
necessary expenses incurred while attending advisory group meetings if they are not otherwise compensated by their 
employers. Since this amendment does not identify a specific source of funding for the compensation, this fiscalnot( 
assumes that the Department of Education would also be required to provide the compensation to non-legislative 
members within existing resources. The cost to the department can not be determined at this time. 
LR2782(9) - Fiscal Note - Page 2 of 2