An Act To Streamline Higher Education in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1661
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: MITCHELL, NORTON, MARTIN, RA YE, TURNER, DAVIS, FINCH

Legislative Document 
No. 1661 
S.P.615 
In Senate, May 5, 2005 
An Act To Streamline Higher Education in Maine 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Senator MITCHELL of Kennebec. 
Cosponsored by Representative NORTON of Bangor and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: MARTIN of Aroostook, RA YE of Washington, TURNER of Cumberland, 
Representatives: DAVIS of Falmouth, FINCH of Fairfield. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
PART A 
Sec. A-I. 20-A MRSA c. 408 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 408 
STATE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION 
§10601. 
State system of public higher education 
1. 
Establishment. 
There is established a state system of 
public higher education, 
referred to in this chapter as "the 
state system," that consists of: 
A. 
The 
University 
of 
Maine 
System 
and 
each 
of 
its 
universities: 
B. 
The 
Maine 
Community College System and each of its 
colleges: 
C. 
The Maine Maritime Academy; and 
D. 
The Board of Regents of Higher Education and its related 
units as established pursuant to this chapter. 
As used in this chapter, "constituent units" means those units 
described in paragraphs A to C. 
§10602. 
Board of Regents of Higher Education established 
The Board of Regents of Higher Education, referred to in 
this chapter as "the board of regents," is established as the 
central policy-making authority for 
the state 
system 
and to 
provide a permanent voice in support of public higher education, 
to create a statewide vision for public higher education and to 
develop, maintain and evaluate implementation of a long-term plan 
for public higher education in the State. 
1. 
Member&hip; __ ~~~. The 
board 
of 
regents 
is 
organized as set out in this section and consists of 16 members. 
A. 
Ten members are appointed by the Governor, subject to 
review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having 
jurisdiction 
over 
education 
matters 
and 
to 
confirmation by 
the Legislature, 
with 
from 
the First 
Congressional District and 5 from the Second Congressional 
District. 
B. 
Three members are appointed by the President of the 
Senate and 3 members are appointed by the Speaker of the 
House. 
In appointing members to the board of regents, the appointing 
authorities 
shall 
give 
proper 
consideration 
to 
achieving 
£tatewide geographical representation and gender equity. 
The 
members of the board of regents may not be employed by or be 
members 
of 
a 
board 
of 
trustees 
for 
any 
higher 
education 
institution in the State, public or private, nor may they be 
employed as classified or unclassified employees of the State or 
hold elected state office. 
2. 
Terms. 
Members appointed to the board of regents serve 
5-year terms, except the terms of the initially appointed members 
must be staggered: 
Six of the initial appointees serve for one 
year, 5 serve for 2 years and 5 serve for 3 years. 
Members may 
serve a maximum of 2 terms, except that an individual appointed 
to fill an unexpired term of 3 years or less is eligible for 
appointment to 2 full terms. 
3. 
Vacancies. 
Vacancies on the board of regents are filled 
for the unexpired term only. 
A member serves until a successor 
has been appointed and qualified. 
4. 
Chair; officers. 
The Governor shall appoint the initial 
chair of the board of regents, who serves for a term of 2 
years~ 
Thereafter, the board of regents shall elect from its membership 
a chair, who serves for a term to be designated by the board of 
regents. 
A chair may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms. 
The board of regents shall elect from its members a vice-chair 
and such other officers it considers necessary. 
A vacancy among 
the 
officers 
must 
be 
filled within 
days 
following 
the 
occurrence of the vacancy in the same manner as the original 
selection. 
5. 
Public meetiAqs and records. 
The board of regents is 
deemed to be a public agency within the meaning of Title L 
~ter 13, subchapter 1. 
The financial books and other records 
of the board of regents are public records and the meetings of 
the board of regents are public proceedings within the meaning of 
Title 1, chapter 13, subchapter 1. 
6. 
Bylaws. 
The board of regents shall establish bylaws to 
govern its procedures 
and shall appoint 
such committees 
and 
advisory 
boards 
as 
may 
be 
convenient 
or 
necessary 
in 
the 
transaction of its business. 
7. 
Ouorum. 
Nine 
members 
of 
the 
board 
of 
regents 
constitutes a quorum. 
8. 
COJR,Pensation. 
Members of the board of regents are not 
entitled 
to 
compensation 
for 
their 
services, 
but 
may 
be 
reimbursed 
for 
trayel 
and 
other 
expenses 
incurred 
in 
the 
performance of their official duties. 
§10603. 
Duties of board of regents; statewide policies 
1. 
Establishment 
of 
~t~ewide---Rolicies 
for 
education. 
The 
board 
of 
regents 
shall 
establish 
policies 
and 
guidelines 
for 
the 
state 
system, 
establishing statewide policies and guidelines to: 
higlLex: 
statewide 
including 
A. 
Deyelop 
a 
master 
plan 
for 
higher 
education 
and 
postsecondary 
education 
consistent 
with 
the 
goals 
in 
subsection 2: 
B. 
Reyiew 
and 
approye 
mission 
statements 
for 
the 
constituent units and mission statements for the individual 
institutions and branches of the constituent units; 
C. 
Prepare and present to the Goyernor and the Legislature 
consolidated operating and capital expenditure budgets for 
the state system; 
D. 
Establish statewide tuition and student fee policies and 
guidelines; 
E. 
E-stablish statewide student financial aid policies and 
guidelines; 
F. 
Monitor 
and evaluate institutional effectiveness and 
yiability in accordance with criteria established by the 
board of regents; 
G. 
Merge or close institutions in accordance with criteria 
established by the board of regents except that: 
(1) A recommended merger or closing reguires a 2/3 vote 
of the board of regents; and 
(2) Notice of the recommended merger or closing must be 
sent to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction oyer education matters; 
H. 
Review 
and 
approve 
any 
recommendations 
for 
the 
establishment of 
new 
academic programs 
submitted to 
the 
board of regents by the constituent unit boards of trustees, 
.and, in consultation with the affected constituent units, 
provide for the initiation, consolidation or termination of 
academic programs. The board of regents shall notify the 
board Q~~~~ees affec~ed by the proposed termination of an 
academic program. Within 90 days of receipt of such notice. 
the trustees shall accept or reject the termination proposal 
and shall notify the board of regents of its action. If the 
~rmi~9~i~~~P9~~~ted by the trustees. the board 
of regents may override the rejection by a 2/3 vote: 
I • 
Develop 
criteria 
to 
ensure 
acceptable 
quality 
in 
programs 
and 
institutions 
and 
enforce 
standards 
through 
licensing and accreditation: 
J. 
Review and make recommendations on plans received from 
the constituent unit boards of trustees for the continuing 
development and maximum utilization of the State's public 
higher education resources: 
K. 
Appoint advisory committees to assist in defining and 
ll\ggesting solutions for the problems and needs of higher 
education; 
L. 
Establish an advisory council for higher education with 
representatives 
from 
public 
and private institutions 
to 
study methods a~roposals for coordinating efforts of all 
such institutions in providing a stimulating and enriched 
educational 
environment 
for 
the 
citizens 
of 
the 
State. 
including 
measures 
to 
improve 
educational 
opportunities 
through alternative and nontraditional approaches such as 
external degrees and credit by examination; 
M. 
Coordinate 
programs 
and 
services 
throughout 
public 
higher 
education 
and 
between 
public 
and 
independent 
institutions. including procedures to evaluate the impact on 
independent institutions of higher education of proposals 
affecting public institutions of higher education; 
N. 
Make or enter into contract_~eases or other agreements 
in connection with its responsibilities under this chapter. 
except that all acquisitions of real estate by lease or 
otherwise are subject to the provisions of Title 5. Part 4: 
O. 
Prepare and pres~nt to tbe Governor and the L~isl~ture 
legislative proposals 
affecting public 
higher 
education. 
including 
proposal~hat use 
programs 
and facilities of 
independent institutions of higher education; 
P. 
Develop 
and 
maintain 
a 
central 
higher 
education 
information 
system 
and 
establish 
definitions 
and 
data 
requirements for the state system: 
O. 
Undertake such studj,J'!s ansl other activities as will best 
serve the higher educational interests of the State: and 
R. 
Establish 
criteria 
for 
priority 
higher 
education 
facilities projects. 
2. 
Establishment of g~l~for higher education. 
Within the 
limits of authorized appropriations and authorized expenditures 
of other funds, the board of regents shall establish policies of 
the state system that are consistent with the following goals: 
A. 
Ensuring 
that 
no 
qualified 
person 
be 
denied 
the 
opportunity for higher education on the basis of age, sex, 
ethnic background or social, physical or economic condition: 
B. 
Protecting academic freedom: 
C. 
Providing 
opportunities 
for 
education 
and 
training 
related 
to 
the 
economic, 
cultural 
and 
educational 
development of the State: 
D. 
Ensuring the fullest possible use of available resources 
in public and private institutions of higher education: 
E. 
Maintaining standards of quality ensuring a position of 
national 
leadership 
for 
state 
institutions 
of 
higher 
education: 
F. 
Applying 
the 
resources 
of 
higher 
education 
to 
the 
problems of society: and 
G. 
Fostering flexibility in the policies and institutions 
Qf higher education to enable the state system to respond to 
changes in the 
economy, 
society, 
technology 
and student 
interests. 
The board of regents shall review recent studies 
of the need for higher education services, 
with special 
attention to those completed pursuant to legislative action, 
and shall initiate additional programs or services through 
one or more of the constituent units to meet such needs. 
3. 
Reports. 
The 
board 
of 
regents 
shall 
request 
and 
receive, or be provided electronic access to, data, reports and 
other information from the constituent units of the state system 
necessary 
for 
the 
board 
to 
carry 
out its 
responsibilities 
pursuant to this chapter. 
§l0604. 
Higher Educ~tion Coordinating COuncil established: 
chair: public meetings and records 
. Page 5-LR0407(1) 
The Higher Education Coordinating Council. referred to in 
this chapter as "the coordinating council." is established as an 
advisory council to the board of regents to assist the board of 
regents in performing its statutory duties. 
The coordinating 
council is composed of the chairs of the boards of trustees and 
the chief executive officers of each constituent unit of the 
state system and the chair of the board and the chief executiye 
officer of the Finance Authority of Maine. 
The coordinating 
council shall elect from its membership a chair who serves for a 
term to be designated by the coordinating council. 
A chair may 
not serve more than 2 consecutiye terms. The coordinating council 
is a board or commission of a public agency within the meaning of 
Title 
It 
chapter 
13. 
subchapter 
It 
the 
records 
of 
the 
coordinating council are public records 
and the meetings of 
coordinating council are public proceedings. 
1. 
Duties. 
The coordinating council shall: 
A. 
Identify. 
examine 
and 
implement 
stdministrative functions carried out by the 
including. 
but 
not 
limited 
to. 
methods 
procedures 
and 
reduce 
duplication in the 
functions of each constituent unit; and 
savings 
in 
state system. 
to 
simplify 
administratiye 
E. 
Develop accountability measures 
for 
each constituent 
unit and each public institution of higher education in 
accordance with the provisions of subsection 2. 
~J~~o~~~ility measurg§~Rorts. 
The accountability 
measures 
developed 
by 
the 
coordinating 
council 
pursuant 
to 
subsection It paragraph E must be used by the board of regents 
and the board of trustees of each constituent unit in assessing 
.t~rogress of each constituent unit of the state system as 
follows. 
A. 
Accountability measures developed for each constituent 
unit include the goals of: 
(I) 
Ensuring access to and affordability of higher 
education: 
~} 
Enh-,~._~LC;ing student learning and promoting academic 
excellence; 
(3) 
Promoting the economic development of the State to 
help 
business 
and 
industry sustain strong economic 
growth; 
(4) 
Joining with elementary and secondary schools to 
improve teaching and learning at all education leyels; 
(5) 
Responding to the needs and problems of the State 
and society; and 
(6) 
Ensuring the efficient use of resources. 
The coordinating council shall develop an implementation 
plan for use of the accountability measures. 
B. 
In developing the accountability measures pursuant to 
subsection L 
the coordinating council shall also consider 
graduation rates, student retention rates, tuition and fees, 
.s...t.Ydent 
financial 
need 
and 
~j.l.al2le 
aid, 
trends 
in 
enrollment and the percentage of incoming students who are 
state residents, 
data on graduates by 
academic 
program, 
faculty productivity and any other factor that it considers 
relevant in providing the board of regents with a greater 
degree 
of 
accountability 
in 
the 
state 
system. 
In 
considering faculty productivity measures, the council shall 
consult 
with 
the 
advisory 
committee 
established 
under 
section 10605. 
C. 
The coordinating council shall submit the accountability 
measures 
developed 
pursuant 
to 
subsection 
and 
the 
implementation plan as provided in paragraph A for use of 
the accountability measures to the board of regents for the 
board's 
review 
and 
approval. 
Once 
the 
measures 
ang 
implementation plan 
are 
approveg, 
each 
constituent unit 
shall provide the gata to the boarg of regents that is 
necessary for purposes of applying the measures. 
D. 
The chair of the coordinating council, on behalf of the 
boarg 
of 
regents, 
shall 
report 
to 
the 
joint 
standing 
committee 
of 
the 
Legislature 
having 
jurisgiction 
over 
egucation matters on the accountability measures 
and the 
implementation plan gevelopeg pursuant to this section by 
February 1, 2008. 
The report must include recommendations: 
(1) For any statutory changes needeg for purposes of 
assessing 
the 
constituent 
units 
based 
on 
the 
accountability measures; 
(2) 
To 
clarify 
ang 
streamline 
planning 
and 
accountability 
reporting 
requirements 
of 
the 
constituent units: 
(3) Concerning goals, actions to achieve such goals and 
analysis of performance: and 
. Page 7 -LR0407 (1) 
(4) 
For 
options 
to 
revise 
budgeting policies 
and 
programs to meet accountability goals and measures as 
outlined in paragraphs A and B. 
E. 
The coordinating council shall develop an accountability 
report prototype. Upon review and approval by the board of 
regents, the chair of the board of regents shall submit the 
report prototype to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters by 
October 
1. 
2007. 
The 
report 
prototype 
must 
include 
accountability measures developed and approved under this 
~ection for which data collection mechanisms exist as 
determined by the chair of the board of regents. 
F. 
Each constituent unit of the state system shall submit 
to 
the 
chair 
of 
the 
board 
of 
regents 
its 
first 
accountability report by January 1, 2008. 
The chair of t~ 
coordinating 
council 
shall 
compile 
and 
consolidate 
the 
reports on behalf of the chair of the board of regents. The 
chair of the board of regents shall submit an accountability 
report that covers the state sY£tem of higher education and 
each constituent unit 
and public 
institution of higher 
education to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over education by February 1, 2008. 
The 
report must include baseline data for the accountability 
measures 
developed 
under 
this 
section 
for 
which 
data 
collection mechanisms exist and comparable peer data, 
as 
determined by the chair of the board of regents, 
after 
consultation with the coordinating council and upon review 
and approval by the board of regents. 
The report must also 
include a timeline for the collection of data and reporting 
Qf 
the 
remaining~ountability measures 
and 
for 
the 
identification of performance improvement targets. 
G. 
Each constituent unit of the state system shall sul2I!Li t 
an accountability report to 
the 
chair of the board of 
regents by January 1st. 
The chair of the board of regents 
shall compile the reports and shall submit a consolidated 
accountability report for the state system to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over education matters by February 1st. 
The report must 
contain accountability measures for each constituent unit 
and 
public 
institution of 
higher 
education pursuant to 
subsection 1. 
The report must include updated baseline and 
peer comparison data, 
performance improvement targets for 
each measure 
and other information as determined by the 
chair of the board of regents. 
§10605. 
Advisory committee to board of regents established: 
membership: dutie~ 
The advisory committee to the board of regents, referred to 
in this chapter as "the advisory committee," is established as an 
advisory body to the board of regents to assist the board of 
regents in performing its statutory duties. 
1. 
Membersbip. 
The advisory committee is organized as set 
out in this section and consists of 12 members as follows: 
A. 
One member from each of the boards of trustees of the 
constituent units of the state system: 
B. 
One member from the administrative staff of each of the 
constituent units: 
~~e member from the faculty representing each of the 
constituent units: and 
D. 
One student from each of the constituent units. 
2. 
Appointment§. 
The members of the advisory committee and 
alternates for those members must be appointed by the constituent 
units 
they are 
to 
represent, 
in accordance 
with procedures 
established by the respective boards of trustees. 
The alternate 
m~mber~~~~~Qry committee may serve in the absence of the 
regularly appointed member. 
3. 
Chair: 
officers: 
public meetings 
and 
records. 
The 
advisory committee shall, on a 
rotating~sis among its members~ 
elect its own chair and secretary and such other officers as it 
considers 
necessary, 
to serve 
for 
a 
term of 
years. 
The 
advisory committee is a board or commission of a public agency 
within the meaning of Title It chapter 13, subchapter It 
th~ 
acords of the advisory committee are public records and the 
meetings of the advisory committee are public proceedings within 
the meaning of Title 1, chapter 13. 
4. 
Meetings. 
The advisory committee shall mee_t at least 
twice 
annually with 
the 
board of 
regents. 
Agendas 
must 
be 
prepared for such meetings and must be distributed by the board 
of 
regents 
prior 
to 
the 
meetings 
and 
consist 
of 
matters 
recommended for inclusion by the chair of the board of regents 
and the advisory committee. 
The meetings must be chaired by the 
chair of the board of regents and the advisory committee members 
have 
the 
right 
to 
participate 
in 
all 
discussions 
and 
deliberations, but do not have the right to vote at such meetings. 
§10606. 
Priority higher edq~~tion fac~lity project review 
committee established: membership: duties 
A commiU_eJiL_J:.9 
review priority higher education facility 
projects, referred to in this chapter as "the facility project 
review committee," is established as an advisory body to the 
board of regents to assist the board of regents in performing its 
statutory duties. 
1. 
Membership. 
The facility project review committee is 
organized as set out in this section and includes the Treasurer 
of State, the Director of the Bureau of General Services within 
the Department of Administrative and Financial Services and the 
Q).ief Executive Officer of the Finance Authority of Maine, or 
their designees. 
The Director of the Bureau of General Services 
or the director's designee shall serve as chair. 
2. 
Prioritization of higher education facility projects. 
On 
or before October 1, 
2008, 
and annually thereafter, 
each 
constituent unit 
may 
submit 
to 
the facility project 
review 
committee a list of proposed priority higher education facility 
E-rojects ranked in order of priority. 
Within 60 days following 
the 
submission, 
the facility project 
review 
committee 
shall 
review all such lists and 
approve 
the proposed projects 
as 
priority higher education facility projects unless 
a 
project 
~~iption is nOL.Ji;ubstantially cQmE-k~~r a prQject fails tQ 
conform tQ the criteria for a priority higher educatiQn facility 
project established by the board of regents. 
On 
or before 
January 15th and July 15th, annually, the facility project review 
committee shall report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters and the 
,iQint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over 
appropriations 
and 
financial 
affairs 
on 
the 
status 
of 
priority higher education facility projects. 
~evie1f of implementation of priority higher education 
facility project procedures. On or before December 31, 2010, the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over education matters, in consultation with the joint standing 
committee 
of 
the 
Legislature 
having 
jurisdiction 
over 
APpropriations 
and 
financial 
affairs, 
shall 
review 
the 
implementation of priority higher 
education facility project 
procedures and the status of such projects and recommend whether 
to continue, expand or discontinue and repeal the procedures for 
priority higher education facility projects established pursuant 
to this section. 
Sec. A-2. Effective date. 
This Part takes effect July 1, 2007. 
PARTB 
Sec. 
B-1. 
Transition. 
Notwithstanding 
the 
Maine 
Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 411, Title 20-A, chapter 431 and 
Private 
and 
Special 
Law 
1941, 
chapter 
37, 
as 
amended, 
the 
following provisions apply to the realignment of the duties and 
responsibilities of the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees of 
the University of Maine System, the President and the Board of 
Trustees of the Maine Community College System and the President 
and the Board of Trustees of the Maine Maritime Academy with the 
provisions of Title 20-A, 
chapter 408, 
which establishes the 
authority of the Board of Regents of Higher Education as the 
central policy-making authority for the state system of public 
higher education. 
1. 
The University of Maine 
System, 
the Maine 
Community 
College System and the Maine Maritime Academy as created and 
established by law are incorporated into the state system of 
public higher education. 
Upon the effective date of Part A of 
this Act, all references to, responsibilities of and authority 
conferred upon the governing boards and policy-making authorities 
of the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College 
System 
and 
the 
Maine 
Maritime 
Academy, 
and 
those entities' 
predecessors, throughout the Maine Revised Statutes and Private 
and Special Laws are deemed to refer to and vest in the Board of 
Regents of Higher Education created by this Act, as the successor 
entity. 
The 
Board 
of 
Regents 
of 
Higher 
Education 
is 
the 
successor in every way to the powers, duties and functions as 
assigned in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 408 
as they pertain to the governance and coordination of the state 
system of public higher education established under this Act. 
2. All policies and procedures established by the Chancellor 
and the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System, the 
President 
and 
the 
Board of Trustees of the 
Maine 
Community 
College System and the President and the Board of Trustees of the 
Maine Maritime Academy, 
as they pertain to the duties of the 
Board of Regents of Higher Education and its related units as set 
forth in this Act, in effect on the effective date of this Act 
remain in effect until rescinded, revised or amended. 
3. The Chancellor of the University of Maine System, the 
President of the Maine Community College System and the President 
of the Maine Maritime Academy, together with the chairs of their 
respective governing boards, shall collaborate and develop a plan 
to 
align 
and 
consolidate 
the 
governance 
and 
coordination 
functions 
of 
their 
respective 
governing 
boards 
with 
the 
provisions set forth in Part A of this Act. 
By January 31, 2006, 
the Chancellor of the University of Maine System shall submit a 
report, including recommendations and any necessary legislation, 
to the Governor and the Joint Standing Committee on Education and 
Cultural Affairs regarding the plan required under this section. 
Following receipt and review of the report, the Joint Standing 
Committee 
on 
Education 
and 
Cultural Affairs 
may 
report out 
legislation to the l22nd Legislature. 
Sec. B-2. Legislation; schedule. Under the direction of the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
education matters, staff from the Off ice of Policy and Legal 
Analysis and the Office of the Revisor of Statutes shall review 
those parts of the Maine Revised Statutes and relevant Private 
and Special Laws governing the University of Maine System, the 
Maine Community College System, the Maine Maritime Academy and 
the State Board of Education. 
The purpose of the review is to 
develop legislation to align and consolidate existing law in the 
Maine Revised Statutes and relevant Private and Special Laws 
necessary to update the provisions proposed in Part A and to 
correct any errors and inconsistencies in law that result from 
this Act. 
By November 30, 2006, the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters shall 
agree on the format and organization of the relevant provision of 
the 
Maine 
Revised Statutes and 
relevant Private and Special 
Laws. 
By November 30, 2007, the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature 
having 
jurisdiction over 
education matters 
shall 
submit the legislation developed pursuant to this section to the 
Sec. B-3. Interim meetings; authorized. 
The 
Joint 
Standing 
Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs is authorized to meet 
as needed, but at least 3 times, during the 2005 legislative 
interim to carry out its responsibilities to oversee planning, 
service 
delivery 
and 
implementation 
issues 
related 
to 
the 
establishment of the Board of Regents of Higher Education as the 
central policy-making authority for the state system of public 
higher education. 
At 
these meetings, 
the Chancellor of the 
University 
of 
Maine 
System 
shall 
brief 
the 
joint 
standing 
committee 
on 
planning 
issues, 
progress, 
challenges 
and 
the 
timeline for implementation. 
The joint standing committee shall 
provide 
opportunities 
for 
trustees, 
faculty 
members, 
administrators, 
campus 
personnel, 
students, 
alumni, 
community 
officials and members of the public to speak to the committee. 
The joint standing committee may submit legislation to the Second 
Regular Session of the l22nd Legislature based on these meetings. 
Sec. B-4. Advisory working groups. During the period from July 
2005 to December 2006, the Chancellor of the University of Maine 
System 
shall 
convene 
advisory 
working 
groups 
to 
consider 
strategic planning, program delivery and implementation issues 
related to the establishment of the state system of public higher 
education. 
The Chancellor of the University of Maine 
System 
shall collaborate with the President of the Maine 
Community 
College System and the President of the Maine Maritime Academy in 
convening 
and 
conducting 
the 
work 
of 
the 
advisory 
working 
groups. 
The advisory working groups shall review the issues 
identified in this 
Part. 
The 
advisory working 
groups 
must 
include 
broad 
representation 
from 
trustees, 
faculty 
members, 
administrators, 
campus 
personnel, 
students, 
alumni, 
community 
officials and members of the public. 
Sec. B-S. Budget. 
The 
Department 
of 
Administrative 
and 
Financial Services, 
Bureau of the Budget shall work with the 
Chancellor of the University of Maine System, the President of 
the Maine Community College System and the President of the Maine 
Maritime Academy, together with the chairs of their respective 
governing boards, with regard to the duties transferred to the 
Board of Regents of Higher Education as the central policy-making 
authority for the state system of public higher education as set 
forth in this Act in order to develop recommendations for 
a 
proposed operating budget for the Board of Regents of Higher 
Education that must be provided through funds appropriated by the 
Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes a centralized system of governance and 
coordination for public higher education and 
reorganizes 
the 
system for public higher education in Maine by creating the Board 
of Regents of Higher Education, 
which is established as 
the 
central policy-making authority for public higher education in 
the State. 
The bill further establishes a coordinating council 
and an advisory committee to assist the board of regents in 
fulfilling its policy-making role of coordinating the programs 
and 
resources 
of 
the 
University 
of 
Maine 
System 
and 
its 
universities, the Maine Community College System and its colleges 
and 
the 
Maine 
Maritime 
Academy. 
The bill also 
establishes 
transition provisions to review and propose legislative revisions 
to the charters and relevant statutes of the University of Maine 
System, the Maine Community College System and the Maine Maritime 
Academy to align the governance structures of these entities with 
the board of regents as the central policy-making authority for 
the state system of higher education. 
The bill further directs 
the Chancellor of the University of Maine System, the President 
of the Maine Community College System and the President of the 
Maine Maritime Academy, and the respective chairs of their boards 
of 
trustees, 
to 
work 
with 
the 
Joint 
Standing 
Committee 
on 
Education and Cultural Affairs to address a number of transition 
prov~s~ons. 
Finally, the bill establishes July 1, 
2007 as the 
effective date for implementing these governance and coordination 
changes. 
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