An Act To Encourage Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1540
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: SCHNEIDER, RICHARDSON, ALFOND, BARTLETT, BRANNIGAN, COLLINS, COURTNEY, CRAVEN, DIAMOND, FARNHAM, GERZOFSKY, GOODALL, HASTINGS, HILL, HOBBINS, JACKSON, KATZ, LANGLEY, MARTIN, MASON, PATRICK, PLOWMAN, RAYE, RECTOR, ROSEN, SAVIELLO, SHERMAN, SNOWE-MELLO, SULLIVAN, THIBODEAU, THOMAS, TRAHAN, WHITTEMORE, WOODBURY, BEAVERS, BELIVEAU, BENNETT, BLACK, BOLDUC, BRIGGS, CAIN, CASAVANT, CELLI, CHAPMAN, CHASE, CLARK, COTTA, CRAFTS, CRAY, CROCKETT, CURTIS, CUSHING, DAVIS, DILL, DOW, DRISCOLL, DUCHESNE, EBERLE, EDGECOMB, ESPLING, EVES, FITZPATRICK, FLOOD, FOSSEL, FOSTER, GIFFORD, GILBERT, GRAHAM, GUERIN, HAMPER, HARVELL, HASKELL, HERBIG, HINCK, HUNT, INNES, JOHNSON, KAENRATH, KENT, KESCHL, LIBBY, LOVEJOY, LUCHINI, MAKER, MALABY, MALONEY, MORISSETTE, NELSON, NEWENDYKE, O'BRIEN
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-C, 20-A MRSA §11

Legislative Document 
No. 1540 
S.P. 490 
In Senate, May 3, 2011 
An Act To Encourage Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics 
Education 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator SCHNEIDER of Penobscot.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
Cosponsored by Representative RICHARDSON of Carmel and 
Senators: ALFOND of Cumberland, BARTLETT of Cumberland, BRANNIGAN of Cumberland, COLLINS 
of York, COURTNEY of York, CRAVEN of Androscoggin, DIAMOND of Cumberland, FARNHAM of 
Penobscot, GERZOFSKY of Cumberland, GOODALL of Sagadahoc, HASTINGS of Oxford, HILL of 
York, HOBBINS of York, JACKSON of Aroostook, KATZ of Kennebec, LANGLEY of Hancock, 
MARTIN of Kennebec, MASON of Androscoggin, McCORMICK of Kennebec, PATRICK of Oxford, 
PLOWMAN of Penobscot, President RAYE of Washington, RECTOR of Knox, ROSEN of Hancock, 
SAVIELLO of Franklin, SHERMAN of Aroostook, SNOWE-MELLO of Androscoggin, SULLIVAN of 
York, THIBODEAU of Waldo, THOMAS of Somerset, TRAHAN of Lincoln, WHITTEMORE of 
Somerset, WOODBURY of Cumberland, Representatives: BEAVERS of South Berwick, BELIVEAU of 
Kittery, BENNETT of Kennebunk, BLACK of Wilton, BOLDUC of Auburn, BRIGGS of Mexico, CAIN of 
Orono, CASAVANT of Biddeford, CELLI of Brewer, CHAPMAN of Brooksville, CHASE of Wells, 
CLARK of Millinocket, CORNELL du HOUX of Brunswick, COTTA of China, CRAFTS of Lisbon, 
CRAY of Palmyra, CROCKETT of Bethel, CURTIS of Madison, CUSHING of Hampden, DAVIS of 
Sangerville, DILL of Old Town, DOW of Waldoboro, DRISCOLL of Westbrook, DUCHESNE of Hudson, 
EBERLE of South Portland, EDGECOMB of Caribou, ESPLING of New Gloucester, EVES of North 
Berwick, FITZPATRICK of Houlton, FLOOD of Winthrop, FOSSEL of Alna, FOSTER of Augusta, 
GIFFORD of Lincoln, GILBERT of Jay, GRAHAM of North Yarmouth, GUERIN of Glenburn, HAMPER 
of Oxford, HARVELL of Farmington, HASKELL of Portland, HERBIG of Belfast, HINCK of Portland, 
HUNT of Buxton, INNES of Yarmouth, JOHNSON of Greenville, KAENRATH of South Portland, KENT 
of Woolwich, KESCHL of Belgrade, LIBBY of Waterboro, LOVEJOY of Portland, LUCHINI of Ellsworth, 
MAKER of Calais, MALABY of Hancock, MALONEY of Augusta, MARTIN of Eagle Lake, McCABE of 
Skowhegan, McCLELLAN of Raymond, McFADDEN of Dennysville, MORISSETTE of Winslow, 
NELSON of Falmouth, NEWENDYKE of Litchfield, O'BRIEN of Lincolnville, O'CONNOR of Berwick, 
PARKER of Veazie, PETERSON of Rumford, PICCHIOTTI of Fairfield, PILON of Saco, PRESCOTT of 
Topsham, RANKIN of Hiram, RICHARDSON of Warren, SANBORN of Gorham, SANDERSON of 
Chelsea, SARTY of Denmark, SHAW of Standish, SIROCKI of Scarborough, STEVENS of Bangor, 
STRANG BURGESS of Cumberland, TIMBERLAKE of Turner, TREAT of Hallowell, TURNER of 
Burlington, TUTTLE of Sanford, VOLK of Scarborough, WAGNER of Lewiston, WELSH of Rockport, 
WINTLE of Garland. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-C, sub-§8 is enacted to read: 
8.   
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §11 is enacted to read: 
§11.  Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Council 
1.  Establishment; composition.  The Science, Technology, Engineering and 
Mathematics Council, established in Title 5, section 12004-C, subsection 8 and referred 
to in this section as "the council," consists of the following 12 members: 
A.  Four ex officio members: 
(1)  The Commissioner of Education; 
(2)  The Chancellor of the University of Maine System; 
(3)  The President of the Maine Community College System; and 
(4)  The Commissioner of Labor; and 
B.  The following 8 members, appointed by the Governor: 
(1)  A representative from the University of Maine, Maine Center for Research in 
STEM Education; 
(2)  A representative that teaches in elementary or middle school; 
(3)  A representative that teaches science or mathematics in secondary school; 
(4)  A representative that teaches in a technical school; 
(5)  A representative of public and private education partnerships; 
(6)  A representative of a statewide science, technology, engineering and 
mathematics collaborative; 
(7)  A representative from the business sector who employs workers with training 
in science, technology, engineering or mathematics; and 
(8)  A representative employed in an industry related to science, technology, 
engineering or mathematics. 
2.  Terms; vacancy.  The members of the council appointed pursuant to subsection 1, 
paragraph B serve for 2-year terms and serve until their successors are appointed and 
qualified.  A member of the council is eligible for reappointment to the council.  A 
vacancy in the council does not impair the right of a quorum of the members to exercise 
all the rights and perform all the duties of the council.  In the event of a vacancy 
occurring in the membership, the Governor shall appoint a replacement member for the 
Science, Technology, 
Engineering and Mathematics 
Council 
Expenses Only 
20-A MRSA §11
remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner in which the original appointment 
was made. 
3.  Duties.  The council shall develop strategies for enhancing science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics education from prekindergarten through postsecondary 
education and: 
A.  Review research that has been conducted on science, technology, engineering and 
mathematics education in the State and recommend strategic directions for 
consideration by policy makers as they identify future investments in science, 
technology, engineering and mathematics; 
B.  Plan for coordinated state leadership with respect to science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics education and initiatives; 
C.  Develop initiatives to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics 
education; 
D.  Devise strategies for promoting career and technical education alignment and 
supporting early career planning and transition supports from high school to college 
and to the workforce; and 
E.  Propose methods for integrating out-of-school programs focused on science, 
technology, engineering and mathematics with school-based programs, with the goal 
of inspiring more students to concentrate in the fields of science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics. 
4.  Chair; vice-chair.  The council shall elect from its membership a chair and a 
vice-chair.  The chair and vice-chair serve for one-year terms.  The chair and vice-chair 
serve until their successors are elected.  The chair calls meetings of the council and 
presides over meetings.  The vice-chair serves as the chair in the absence of the chair. 
5.  Meetings; quorum.  The council shall meet at least 2 times each year.  The chair 
shall establish the agenda.  A quorum of the council is 7 members. 
6.  Compensation.  Members of the council appointed pursuant to subsection 1, 
paragraph B are entitled to receive compensation for travel expenses as allowed under 
Title 5, section 12004-C, subsection 8 while engaged in council activities. 
7.  Assistance.  The Department of Education, the University of Maine System and 
the Maine Community College System shall jointly provide staff support to the council. 
8.  Annual report.  On or before January 15th annually, the council shall submit a 
report of its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Council 
to develop strategies for enhancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics 
education from prekindergarten through postsecondary education.