Resolve, To Establish the Study Committee to Study the Feasibility of a 4-year High School Vocational Program
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1133
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: ANNIS, MITCHELL, CUMMINGS, JENNINGS, JOY, MURPHY, PINEAU, RICHARDSON, TOBIN, DA VIS

12lst MAINE LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 1133 
H.P.836 
House of Representati ves, March 4, 2003 
Resolve, To Establish the Study Committee to Study the Feasibility 
of a 4-year High School Vocational Program 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative ANNIS of Dover-Foxcroft. 
Cosponsored by Senator MITCHELL of Penobscot and 
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frl.1l}Jc~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: CUMMINGS of Portland, JENNINGS of Leeds, JOY of Crystal, MURPHY 
of Kennebunk, PINEAU of Jay, RICHARDSON of Greenville, TOBIN of Dexter, Senator: 
DA VIS of Piscataquis. 
Prinled on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. 
Whereas, Acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, this resolve creates the Commission to Study the 
Feasibility of a 4-year High School Vocational Program; and 
Whereas, 
the study must 
be initiated before 
the 
90-day 
period expires in order that the study may be completed and a 
report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative 
session; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. 
Commission established. 
Resolved: 
That 
the 
Study 
Commission to Study the Feasibility of 
a 
4-year High School 
Vocational 
Program, 
referred 
to 
in 
this 
resolve 
as 
"the 
commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: 
That the commission 
consists of 10 members appointed as follows: 
1. 
Three members appointed by the President of the Senate 
as follows: 
A. 
One member of the Senate who is a member of the Joint 
Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs; 
B. 
One member who is a current vocational technical high 
school administrator; and 
C. 
One member who is on the State Bo~rd of Education; 
2. 
follows: 
Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House as 
A. 
One member of the House of Representatives who is a 
member of the Joint Standing Committee 
on Education and 
Cultural Affairs; 
B. 
One member who is a current vocational technical high 
school administrator; and 
C. 
One member who is on the State Board of Education; and 
Page l-LR0428(1) 
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3. 
Four members appointed by the Governor as follows: 
A. 
One member who attends a vocational college; 
B. 
One member who is on a local board of education in a 
Maine community; 
C. 
One member who is an officer of the Maine Education 
Association; and 
D. 
One member who is a member of a trade union; and be it 
further 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: 
That 
the 
Senate 
member 
is the 
Senate chair of the commission and the House of Representatives 
member is the House chair of the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: 
That 
all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the 
effective date of this resolve. 
The appointing authorities shall 
notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all 
appointments 
have 
been 
completed. 
Within 
days 
after 
appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the 
first meeting of the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the commission shall examine 
the feasibility of establishing a 4-year high school vocational 
program to provide a technical high school setting for middle 
school students to attend at the completion of the 8th grade; and 
be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That, upon approval of the 
Legislative Council, 
the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and 
be it further 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the legislative members 
of the commission are entitled to the legislative per diem, as 
def ined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and 
reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses related to 
their 
attendance 
at 
authorized 
meetings 
of 
the 
commission. 
Public members not otherwise compensated by their employers or 
other entities 
that 
they 
represent 
are entitled to 
receive 
reimbursement of necessary expenses and, upon a demonstration of 
financial hardship, a per diem equal to the legislative per diem 
for their attendance at authorized meetings of the commission; 
and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That, 
no later than December l, 
2003, 
the commission shall submit a 
report that includes its 
findings 
and 
recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, 
for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 121st 
Legislature. 
The 
commission 
is 
authorized 
to 
introduce 
legislation related to its report to the Second Regular Session 
of the 121st Legislature at the time of submission of its report; 
and be it further 
Sec. 9. Extension. Resolved: 
That, if the commission requires 
a limited extension of time to complete its study and make its 
report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant 
an extension; and be it further 
Sec. 10. The commission budget. Resolved: 
That the chairs of 
the commission, with assistance from the commission staff, shall 
administer the commission's budget. 
Within 10 days after its 
first meeting, 
the commission shall present a 
work plan and 
proposed budget to the Legislative Council for its approval. 
The 
commission 
may 
not 
incur expenses 
that would result in the 
commission's exceeding its approved budget. 
Upon request from 
the commission, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council 
shall promptly provide the commission chairs and staff with a 
status report on the commission budget, expenditures incurred and 
paid and available funds. 
Emergency clause. 
In Vlew of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes a study commission to study the 
feasibility of providing a 
technical high school setting for 
middle school students to attend after they complete 8th grade. 
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