An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding School Funding
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1932
Committee Amendment CA_A-HA_D_H716 (House)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §1461

HOUSE AMENDMENT" D" 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-§3, ~, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. 
XXXX, §13, is amended to read: 
B. In order for the plan to be approved by the commissioner, the governing bodies of 
school administrative units shall work within the following parameters. 
(1) The proposed regional school unit must serve not fewer than 2,500 students, 
except where circumstances relating to the following factors justity an exception: 
(a) 
Geography, including physical proximity and the size of the current 
school administrative unit; 
(b) Demographics, including student enrollment trends and the composition 
and nature of communities in the regional school unit; 
(c) Economics, including existing collaborations to be preserved or enhanced 
and opportunities to deliver commodities and services to be maximized; 
(d) Transportation; 
(e) Population density; or 
(f) Other unique circumstances including the need to preserve existing or 
developing relationships, meet the needs of students, maximize educational 
opportunities for students and ensure equitable access to rigorous programs 
for all students. 
When circumstances justity an exception to the size requirement of 2,500 
students, the unit must serve as close to 2,500 students as possible and in no case, 
except for coastal islands and schools operated by tribal school committees, may 
it serve fewer than 1,200 students. 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
HOUSE AMENDMENT" D" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 741, L.D. 1932 
In addition to the exceptions provided in this subparagraph to the requirement that a 
unit serve at least 1,200 students, the commissioner shall waive the 1,200-student 
requirement if a school administrative unit has demonstrated due diligence in 
pursuing school consolidation conversations as required by law but due to decisions 
made by other potential partners are surrounded by approved regional school units 
and there are no other school administrative units available to join the proposed 
regional school unit. 
(2) The plan must provide comprehensive programming for all students from 
kindergarten to grade 12 and must include at least one publicly supported 
secondary school. 
(3) The plan must be consistent with the policies set forth in section 1451. 
(4) The plan may not displace teachers or students or close any schools existing 
and operating during the school year immediately preceding reorganization, 
except as permitted under section 1512.' 
Amend the amendment by inserting before section 12 the following: 
'Sec. 12. PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §36, sub-§6, ~A is amended to read: 
A. The proposed regional school unit must serve not fewer than 2,500 students, 
except where circumstances relating to the following factors justity an exception: 
(1) Geography, including physical proximity and the size of the current school 
administrative unit; 
(2) Demographics, including student enrollment trends and the composition and 
nature of communities in the regional school unit; 
(3) 
Economics, including existing collaborations to be preserved or enhanced 
and opportunities to deliver commodities and services to be maximized; 
(4) Transportation; 
(5) Population density, including the rural nature of our communities; 
(6) 
Other unique circumstances including the need to preserve existing or 
developing relationships, meet the needs of students, maximize educational 
opportunities for students and ensure equitable access to rigorous programs for 
all students; or 
(7) If, after performing due diligence to develop a regional plan that meets the 
2,500 students enrollment requirement, a school administrative unit is unable to 
achieve the enrollment goal due to the decision of geographically proximate 
school administrative units to participate in a different regional unit. 
When circumstances justity an exception to the requirement of 2,500 students, the 
unit must serve at least 1,200 students, except for offshore islands and schools 
operated by tribal school committees, which may serve fewer than 1,200 students. 
In addition to the exceptions provided in this paragraph to the requirement that a unit 
serve at least 1,200 students, the commissioner shall waive the 1,200-student 
requirement if a school administrative unit has demonstrated due diligence in 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
HOUSE AMENDMENT" D" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 741, L.D. 1932 
pursuing school consolidation conversations as required by law but due to decisions 
made by other potential partners are surrounded by approved regional school units 
and there are no other school administrative units available to join the proposed 
regional school unit.' 
Amend the amendment by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter 
or section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment provides that in addition to the exceptions provided by law to the 
requirement that a school unit serve at least 1,200 students, the Commissioner of 
Education shall waive the 1,200-student requirement if a unit has demonstrated due 
diligence in pursuing consolidation and is surrounded by approved regional school units. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
SPONSOREDBY:-+~~~~~~~~~~~ 
___ 
(Representati 
TOWN: Bethel 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 02/25/08 Mac:.. 
LD 1932 
LR 3324(35) 
An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding School Funding 
Fiscal Note for House Amendment" D" to Committee Amendment "A" 
Sponsor: Rep. Carter of Bethel 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential future biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Requiring the Commissioner of Education to waive the requirement that a school unit serve at least 1,200 students if a 
unit has demonstrated due diligence in pursuing consolidation but is unable to find other school administrative units ir 
which to partner with due to decisions made by the potential partners may increase the total cost of K-12 public 
education in future biennia due to less savings being achieved versus what was anticipated in Public Law 2007, 
chapter 240, Part XXXX. The amount can not be determined at this time and will depend on the number of school 
administrative units affected. 
LR3324(35) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1