An Act To Increase Quality Physical Education for Elementary School Students
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1442
Committee Amendment CA_A_H460 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "4,, to H.P. 1011, L.D. 1442, Bill, "An Act To 
Increase Quality Physical Education for Elementary School Students" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Increase Physical Education for Elementary School Students' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 
Convening of a team to develop and implement a plan for 
improving physical education in elementary schools. 
Resolved: That the 
Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and the 
cochairs of the Govemor's Council on Physical Fitness, Sports, Health and Well ness shall 
invite interested parties to serve on a planning and oversight team to be known as 
"PE4ME." 
PE4ME must include individuals and representatives of agencies and 
associations with expertise in health, health promotion, elementary education and teacher 
certification in physical education. 
1. First meeting; subcommittees and staff support. 
The commissioners and 
cochairs of the council shall convene the first meeting of PE4ME no later than 30 days 
after the effective date of this resolve. 
PE4ME may create subcommittees and seek 
assistance from outside the team membership in addressing its charge and meeting its 
responsibilities. The commissioners shall provide staff and technical assistance to 
PE4ME within existing resources. 
2. Duties. PE4ME shall examine national guidelines for physical education for 
students in kindergarten to grade 8. PE4ME shall develop recommendations for each 
grade level including the minimum number of minutes of physical education per day or 
week and appropriate physical activities. PE4ME shall develop a timeline for 
implementing its recommendations and explore federal and private funding available to 
supplement state resources. The implementation timeline must include clear benchmarks 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT·A" to H.P. 1011, L.D. 1442 
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for phasing in the recommendations, with a goal of complete implementation by the 
beginning of the 20 10-20 II school year. 
3. Considerations. PE4ME shall examine the capacity within the State to train and 
certify physical education teachers. PE4ME shall review the system of learning results 
established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6209 regarding 
physical education and propose changes if needed to improve physical education. 
PE4ME shall develop an approach to including physical education funding as part of the 
essential programs and services funding model. PE4ME shall develop consistent 
measures for evaluating physical education programs and consider the need for 
alternative standards for small, rural or isolated schools based on a potential hardship or 
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additional time needed to comply with the recommended standards. 
4. Reports. PE4ME shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and 
Human Services and the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs no 
later than December 31, 2007. The report must present the recommendations of PE4ME 
and a detailed implementation plan. Following the initial report, the Commissioner of 
Education shall provide the joint standing committee having jurisdiction over education 
matters with updates on the progress of implementing the plan at least once every 6 
months until the plan is completely implemented; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Legislation authorized. Resolved: That the Joint Standing Committee 
on Education and Cultural Affairs may submit legislation to the Second Regular Session 
of the 123rd Legislature regarding physical education for elementary school students.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. It directs the Commissioner of Human Services, 
the Commissioner of Education and the cochairs of the Governor's Council on Physical 
Fitness, Sports, Health and Wellness to convene a planning and oversight team, known as 
PE4ME. PE4ME is charged with developing standards for physical education in 
elementary schools and an implementation plan to achieve those standards by the 20 10-
I I school year. It requires that the team report to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health and Human Services and the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural 
Affairs no later than December 31, 2007. It authorizes the Joint Standing Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs to submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 
123rd Legislature. 
FISCAL ;";OTE HEQLlRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/01/07 frac 
LD 1442 
LR 1293(02) 
An Act To Increase Quality Physical Education for Elementary School Students 
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 
Additional costs to the Department of Education associated with staffing and providing technical assistance to the 
PE4ME team can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. Any additional costs to the Department of Health 
and Human Services can also be absorbed utilizing existing budget resources. 
LRI293(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1