An Act To Include Student Representation on the State Board of Education
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0151
Committee Amendment CA_A_H271 (House)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §401

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 133, L.D. 151, Bill, "An Act To 
Include Student Representation on the State Board of Education" 
Amend the bill in section 1 by striking out all of subsection 1 (page 1, lines 4 to 8 in 
L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'1. Appointment. The state board shall oOHsist consists of 9 members who shall ae 
and, beginning in the 2007-2008 school year, 2 nonvoting student members, one junior 
and one senior in high school. All members are appointed by the Governor. One of the 
student members must reside in the State's First Congressional District at the time of 
appointment and one must reside in the State's Second Congressional District at the time 
of appointment. Each appointment shall be ~ subject to review by the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters and to 
confirmation by the Legislature.' 
Amend the bill in section 2 by striking out all of subsection I-A (page 1, lines 10 to 
in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'I-A. Nomination of student members. Each student member of the state board 
serves for a term of2 years, except that the senior appointed in the 2007-2008 school year 
serves for one year. A junior in high school must be added each year to the state board to 
serve a term of 2 years. 
A. 
The state board shall notify every public high school principal by March 15th of 
the year in which applications are being accepted for the student member's position. 
B. 
Applications for the student member's position must be submitted to the state 
board no later than April 15th of the year in which applications are being accepted. 
C. 
A screening committee of the state board shall select 6 semifinalists for the 
student member's position. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
,. 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT A" to H.P. 133, L.D. 151 
D. 
The state board shall, by May 1 st of the year in which applications are being 
accepted, select 3 finalists for the Governor's consideration and shall rank the finalists 
according to its preference.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 4 (page 1, lines 26 to 32 in L.D.) and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §401, sub-§l-C is enacted to read: 
I-C. Qualifications for service as student member. At the time a student member 
of the state board's term commences, the student must: 
A. Be enrolled in good standing in a public high school in the State; 
B. 
Have completed 10th grade prior to the commencement of the term; 
C. 
Provide at least 3 references from teachers in the school that the student attends; 
and 
D. Meet other criteria established by the state board in consultation with students in 
the State.' 
SUMMARY 
The bill added one student member to the State Board of Education. This amendment 
expands the membership of the board to include 2 student members, including one junior 
in high school and one senior in high school, to serve as nonvoting members. The 
amendment adds a requirement that one of the student members reside in the First 
Congressional District and one in the Second Congressional District at the time of their 
appointment. The amendment also changes several dates in the nomination process for 
prospective student members to align with the phase-in of the terms of student members. 
Finally, the amendment strikes the grade average prerequisite and replaces it with a 
provision that other qualifications would be established by the board in consultation with 
students in the State. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/07/07 frac:.. 
LD 151 
LR 567(02) 
An Act To Include Student Representation on the State Board of Education 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A" 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The additional cost to the State Board of Education to expand its membership by 2 student members is estimated to be 
approximately $2,000 per year and can be absorbed within the board's existing budgeted resources. 
LR0567(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1