An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding School Funding
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1932
Committee Amendment CA_A-HA_B_H677 (House)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §1461

HOUSE AMENDMENT 'b" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 741, 
L.D. 1932, Bill, "An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding School Funding" 
Amend the amendment by inserting after section 2 the following: 
'Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §1461, sub-§8 is enacted to read: 
8. 
Termination of reorganization piannill!! process. 
If at any time the 
representatives of a school administrative unit participating on a reorganization planning 
committee determine by majority vote of those representatives that it is not in the best 
interests of that school administrative unit to continue the reorganization planning 
process, they may notity the reorganization planning committee and the governing body 
of the school administrative unit and request that the governing body of the school 
administrative unit conduct a public hearing on whether or not the school administrative 
unit should continue to participate in the reorganization planning process. 
Following 
such a request, the governing body of the school administrative unit shall conduct a 
public hearing on the issue. Following the public hearing, the governing body of the 
school administrative unit or, in the case of a municipal school unit, the municipal 
officers may place a warrant article substantially as follows on the ballot of a referendum 
in accordance with the referendum procedures applicable to that school administrative 
unit: 
"Article: Do you favor (insert name of school administrative unit) opting out of the 
school reorganization planning process with (insert names of other school 
administrative units) and remaining as a (insert type of school administrative unit)? 
Yes No" 
The school administrative unit shall repmi the results of the referendum to the 
reorganization planning committee and the department following the referendum election. 
If a majority at the referendum votes in favor of opting out of the school reorganization 
planning process, that school administrative unit may not participate further in the school 
reorganization planning process.' 
Amend the amendment by inseliing after section 12 the following: 
'Sec. 13. PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §36, sub-§13 is enacted to read: 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
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HOUSE AMENDMENT "'.8" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 741, L.D. 1932 
13. Termination of reorganization planning process. Notwithstanding any other 
provision of this Part, if at any time the representatives of a school administrative unit 
participating on a reorganization planning committee determine by majority vote of those 
representatives that it is not in the best interests of that school administrative unit to 
continue the reorganization planning process, they may notifY the reorganization planning 
committee and the governing body of the school administrative unit and request that the 
governing body of the school administrative unit conduct a public hearing on whether or 
not the school administrative unit should continue to participate in the reorganization 
planning process. 
Following such a request, the governing body of the school 
administrative unit shall conduct a public hearing on the issue. Following the public 
hearing, the governing body of the school administrative unit or, in the case of a 
municipal school unit, the municipal officers may place a warrant article substantially as 
follows on the ballot of a referendum in accordance with the referendum procedures 
applicable to that school administrative unit: 
"Article: Do you favor (insert name of school administrative unit) opting out of the 
school reorganization planning process with (insert names of other school 
administrative units) and remaining as a (insert type of school administrative unit)? 
Yes/No" 
The school administrative unit shall report the results of the referendum to the 
reorganization planning committee and the department following the referendum election. 
If a majority at the referendum votes in favor of opting out of the school reorganization 
planning process, that school administrative unit may not participate further in the school 
reorganization planning process.' 
Amend the amendment by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter 
or section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment establishes a procedure by which a school administrative unit may 
withdraw from the school reorganization planning process. The procedure requires a 
• majority vote of the re resentatives of a school administrative unit on a reorganization 
plannmg comm! tee followed by a public hearm an 
a referen um vote of the school 
admm!strative UnJ on 
e ques IOn 0 whether the school administrative unit should opt 
out of the school reorganization planning process. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
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SPONSOREDBY~'~~~+-__ ~~~"~·~~/~~~~/~ __ 
(Representative M 
TOWN: Dennysville 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 02/08/08 Mac.. 
LD 1932 
LR 3324(16) 
An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding School Funding 
Fiscal Note for House Amendment "8,, to Committee Amendment" A" 
Sponsor: Rep. McFadden of Dennysville 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
No State fiscal impact 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Allowing school administrative units to withdraw from the reorganization planning process by following the 
established procedure, including holding a referendum vote, does not have a fiscal impact to the State. Choosing to 
opt out of a regional school unit results in the acceptance of penalities pursuant to Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part 
XXXX, § 15696. 
LR3324(16) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1