An Act To Improve the Recruitment of Teachers
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1061
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: MILLS
Amends: 20-A MRSA §13402

Legislative Document 
No. 1061 
S.P.378 
In Senate, March 1, 2005 
An Act To Improve the Recruitment of Teachers 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Senator MILLS of Somerset. 
Printed on recycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §13402, sub-§§7 and 8 are enacted to read: 
7. 
Minimum salary. 
A teacher certified under chapter 501 
may not receive an annual salary in an amount that is less than 
1.5 times the federal nonfarm income official poverty line, as 
defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget, for 
a 
family of 3. 
8. 
Ma~~eJ;"-'.Ji_ de_qr_eg~t. ___ lLte_~H;her certified under chapter 501 
who has a master's degree or higher may not receive an annual 
salary in an amount that is less than 1.5 times the federal 
nonfarm income official poverty line t 
as defined by the federal 
Office of Management and Budget, for a family of 3 plus $2, 000. 
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §§13803 and 13804 are enacted to read: 
§13803. 
Teacher Loan For~eness Program 
There is established ~ 
Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, 
administered by the commissioner. 
The program must pay $3, 000 
per year towards a loan incurred at a postsecondary institution 
in the 
State 
by 
a 
teacher 
who 
teaches 
in 
the 
State after 
graduation, unless the teacher also possesses a degree in math or 
science or a master's degree or higher, in which case the program 
must 
pay 
$5,000 
per 
year 
towards 
a 
loan 
incurred 
at 
a 
2U 
postsecondary institution in the State by the teacher. 
§13804. 
Vacant Teaching~sition ~ 
:12 
There is established the Vacant Teaching Position Fund, 
a 
nonlapsing, 
interest-bearing 
account 
administered 
by 
the 
commissioner. 
All money deposited in the fund and the earnings 
on that money remain in the fund and must be used to provide a 
subsidy of up to $2,000 to a 
school administrative unit that 
cannot fill a needed teaching position before September 1st and 
for the necessary administrative and personnel costs associated 
with the management of the fund. 
Sec. 
3. 
Appropriations 
and 
allocations. 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program 
The 
following 
Initiative: 
Provides 
funds 
to 
forgive 
loans 
incurred 
at 
postsecondary schools in the State by teachers who teach in the 
State. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
2005-06 
$100,000 
$100,000 
2006-07 
$100,000 
$100,000 
Vacant Teaching position Fund 
Initiative: 
Provides funds 
to subsidize school administrative 
units that cannot fill needed teaching positions by September 1st. 
)8 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT 'lUTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
DEPARTMENT 'lUTAL -
ALL FUNDS 
SUMMARY 
This bill: 
2005-06 
$50,000 
$50,000 
2005-06 
$150,000 
$150,000 
2006-07 
$50,000 
$50,000 
2006-07 
$150,000 
$150,000 
1. 
Sets the minimum salaries of teachers at 1.5 times the 
federal poverty threshold; 
2. 
Sets 
the 
minimum 
master's degrees or higher 
threshold plus $2,000; 
salaries 
at 
1. 5 
of 
teachers 
who 
times 
the federal 
possess 
poverty 
3. 
provide 
schools 
Establishes 
the 
Teacher 
Loan Forgiveness 
Program 
to 
funds to forgive loans incurred at Maine postsecondary 
by teachers who teach in the State; and 
4. 
Establishes the Vacant Teaching Position Fund to provide 
funds to subsidize school administrative units that cannot fill 
needed teaching positions by September 1st.