Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0509
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: GOODWIN

Legislative Document 
No. 509 
H.P.394 
House of Representatives, February 6, 2003 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Provide That the State Fund 100 Percent of Education for 
Students from Kindergarten to Postsecondary School 
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative GOODWIN of Pembroke. 
Printed on recycled paper 
'/JJ~ /J1.17bc~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Constitutional amendment. 
Resolved: 
Two 
thirds 
branch 
of 
the 
Legislature 
concurring, 
that 
the 
amendment to the Constitution of Maine be proposed: 
Constitution, Art. VIII, Part First. §1 is amended to read: 
of 
each 
following 
Section 1. 
Legislature shall 
require 
towns 
to 
support 
public schools; duty of Legislature. 
A general diffusion of the 
advantages of education being essential to the preservation of 
the rights and liberties of the people; to promote this important 
object, the Legislature are authorized, 
and it shall be their 
duty to require, the several towns to make suitable provisiony-at 
tRei-F--own--eH~eBSey for the support and maintenance of public 
schools; 
and it shall further be their duty to encourage and 
sui tably endow, 
from time to time, as the circumstances of the 
people may authorize, all academies, colleges and seminaries of 
learning within the State; provided, that no donation, grant or 
endowment shall at any time be made by the Legislature to any 
literary institution now established, or which may hereafter be 
established, unless, at the time of making such endowment, the 
Legislature of the State shall have 
the right to grant 
any 
further powers to alter, limit or restrain any of the powers 
vested in any such literary institution, 
as 
shall be 
judged 
necessary to promote the best interests thereof. 
Constitution, Art. VIII, Part First. §l·A is enacted to read: 
Section I-A. 
State to fully fund public education. 
The 
Legislature by proper enactment shall ensure full state funding 
of public education, from kindergarten to postsecondary school. 
; and be it further 
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; 
effectiv~ 
date. Resolved: 
That the municipal officers of this State shall 
notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, 
towns 
and 
plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding 
a 
statewide election, at a statewide election, on the Tuesday 
following the first Monday of November following the passage of 
this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment 
proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question: 
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to require 
that the State provide full funding of public education from 
kindergarten to postsecondary school?" 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall 
vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a 
cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square below 
Page l-LR0558(1) 
• 
.. 
the word "Yes" or "No." 
The ballots must be received, sorted, 
counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings 
and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as 
votes for members of the Legislature. 
The Governor shall review 
the returns and, if it appears that a majority of the legal votes 
are cast in favor of the amendment, the Governor shall proclaim 
that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of the 
Constitution on the date of the proclamation; and be it further 
Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: 
That 
the 
Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town 
and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this resolution 
necessary to carry out the purpose of this referendum. 
This 
constitutional 
provide full funding of 
postsecondary school. 
SUMMARY 
resolution 
requires 
that 
the 
State 
public education from kindergarten to