An Act To Approve Public Charter Schools in Maine LR0960(02)
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1391
Committee Amendment CA_A_S219 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to s. P. 461, L.D. 1391, Bill, "An 
Act To Approve Public Charter Schools in Maine" 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 6 the following: 
'Sec. 
7. 
Appropriations 
and 
allocations. 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMERT OF 
Impact Aid Fund 
The 
following 
Initiative: 
Provides a base allocation to establish the Impact 
Aid Fund to provide financial assistance to school administrative 
units with fewer than 600 students that have been affected by the 
establishment of a charter school in their area. 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
All Other 
Other Special Revenue Funds Total 
Charter school fund 
2003-04 
$500 
$500 
2004-05 
$500 
$500 
Ini tiati ve: 
Provides a base allocation to establish a charter 
school 
fund 
to 
support activities 
related to 
developing 
an 
effective charter school program in the State. 
Page l-LR0960(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
\\.~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 461, L.D. 1391 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
2003-04 
2004-05 
All Other 
$500 
$500 
Other Special Revenue Funds Total 
$500 
$500 
EDUCATICKi , DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT "l'OTALS 
2003-04 
2004-05 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FONDS 
$1,000 
$1,000 
DEPARTMENT "l'OTAL -
ALL FmmS 
$1,000 
$1,000' 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment 
adds 
an 
appropriations 
and 
allocations 
section to the bill. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMM/rrEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05116/03 ~ae 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD 1391 
An Act To Approve Public Charter Schools in Maine 
LR0960(02) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A' S~" 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Minority Report 
Fiscal Note 
Undetennined current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
2003-04 
$1,000 
2004-05 
$1,000 
Projections 
2005-06 
$1,000 
Projections 
2006-07 
$1,000 
This bill establishes charter schools as a new type of public school that will be part of the State's program of public 
education. The requirement that all state and local funding associated with operating, program and special education 
costs follow each child to the charter school the child attends will result in a significant redistribution of the funds 
available from the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools program. The impact to individual school units can not be 
detennined at this time. Additionally, although this bill defines charter schools as a "school administrative unit" and 
therefore allows charter schools to be eligible for General Purpose Aid for Local Schools, it is not clear how the 
charter schools will raise the local share required in order to receive state subsidy. The additional cost to the 
Department of Education and the State Board of Education associated with implementing this legislation can not be 
detennined at this time. 
This bill establishes the Charter School Fund within the Department of Education to obtain funds from private and 
public sources to support activities related to developing an effective charter school program in the State. This bill 
includes Other Special Revenue Funds base allocations of $500 in fiscal years 2003-04 and 2004-05 for the 
Department of Education to establish the Charter School Fund. 
This bill also establishes the Impact Aid Fund within the Department of Education to provide financial support to 
school administrative units with fewer than 600 students who may have been negatively impacted by the 
establishment of a public charter school in their area and authorizes the Department to contribute $50,000 per year for 
the next four years. This legislation allows funds to be transferred from the Charter School Fund to support the 
Impact Aid Fund. However, it is unclear whether sufficient funds will be available from the Charter School Fund for 
LR0960(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 2 
Impact Aid Fund. However, it is unclear whether sufficient funds will be available from the Charter School Fund for 
this purpose. The ability of the Department to contribute $50,000 to this fund without additional General Fund 
appropriations can not be determined at this time. This bill includes an additional Other Special Revenue Fund base 
allocation of $500 in fiscal year 2003-04 and $500 in fiscal year 2004-05 for the Department of Education to establish 
the Impact Aid Fund. 
Finally, this bill allows for teachers in a non-charter school who are members of the Maine State Retirement System 
and take a leave of absence to teach in a charter school to continue to participate in the retirement system while on 
leave. Although this legislation is not clear who will be responsible for the cost, the employee and employer 
contribution rate for those teachers must continue to be paid. 
LR0960(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 2 of2