An Act To Make Technical Corrections in the Laws Regarding Funding Adult Education Programs and the Closure of an Elementary School in a School District
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2299
Amends: 20-A MRSA §4102, 20-A MRSA §8603-A

Legislative Document 
No. 2299 
H.P.1658 
House of Representatives, April 4, 2008 
An Act To Make Technical Corrections in the Laws Regarding 
Funding Adult Education Programs and the Closure of an 
Elementary School in a School District 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reported by Representative NORTON of Bangor for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX, section 
47. 
Printed on recydeu papt:r 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, certain inconsistencies have been identified in the school district 
reorganization law, Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX, that may adversely affect 
the ability of school administrative units to raise and appropriate funds for adult 
education programs; and 
Whereas, certain inconsistencies have been also identified in the school district 
reorganization law, Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX, that may adversely affect 
the authority of member municipalities in school administrative districts and community 
school districts to close an elementary school; and 
Whereas, the provisions of this Act must take effect immediately to allow school 
administrative units to raise and appropriate funds for adult education programs and to 
restore the authority of member municipalities in school administrative districts and 
community school districts to close an elementary school; 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 enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4102, sub-§4, ~A, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 422, § 17, is 
amended to read: 
A. 
Elementary schools in school administrative districts and community school 
districts may only be closed if approved by the voters in accordance with the 
procedures set out in section 1407 and section 1751, subsection 5 1512 for regional 
school units. 
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §8603-A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 131, §3, is amended to 
read: 
§8603-A. Warrant to raise, appropriate, receive and expend money 
1. Warrant language. In order to fund adult education and educational activities 
and tuition costs under section 8603, a school administrative unit must use the following 
warrant language at a duly called special or regular meeting or city election: 
"Article ....... : 
To see if (the school administrative unit) will appropriate $ ............ for 
adult education and raise $ ............ as the local share; with authorization to expend any 
additional, incidental, or miscellaneous receipts in the interest and for the well-being of 
the adult education program." 
2. Approval. Approval of the warrant must be by majority vote of those voting att6;-
if in more than one municipality, by a majority of those voting in each municipal it), in the 
school administrative unit's legislative body budget meeting or election. 
Page I -123LR3617(Ol)-1 
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3. Effect on multiple school administrative units. If individual municipalities in a 
more than one school administrative unit are approving is participating in the bu4get 
adult education program, the appropriation line must still be the total amount of the adult 
education budget,---OOt for all the units participating and the amount to be raised must be 
that specific school administrative unit's share of the total amount of that specific 
municipality's local share to be raised by local taxation. 
Sec. 3. Retroactivity. That section of this Act that amends the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, section 4102, subsection 4, paragraph A applies retroactively to June 
7,2007. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited In the preamble, this 
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legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill is introduced by the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural 
Affairs pursuant to Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX, section 47. The bill 
makes the following changes to correct inconsistencies in the laws governing the 
reorganization of school administrative units. 
1. It corrects inconsistencies in the laws pertaining to the authority of school 
administrative units to raise and appropriate funds for adult education programs. 
2. It replaces provisions that were repealed pursuant to Public Law 2007, chapter 240, 
Part XXXX that are related to the closure of an elementary school within a school 
administrative district or a community school district and establishes that these provisions 
are retroactive to June 7, 2007.