An Act To Allow the Town of Arundel To Withdraw from Its Regional School Unit without Penalty
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1083
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: SULLIVAN, PARRY

Legislative Document 
No. 1083 
S.P. 316 
In Senate, March 15, 2011 
An Act To Allow the Town of Arundel To Withdraw from Its 
Regional School Unit without Penalty 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator SULLIVAN of York. 
Cosponsored by Representative PARRY of Arundel. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 103-A requires the 
reorganization of school administrative units into regional state-approved units of 
administration; and 
Whereas, the Arundel School Department and School Administrative District No. 
complied with the requirements of the school district reorganization law by forming 
Regional School Unit No. 21, a regional state-approved unit of administration, which 
became operational on July 1, 2009; and 
Whereas, the requirements of the school district reorganization law pertaining to the 
withdrawal of a single municipality from a regional school unit are not practical for the 
Town of Arundel; 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.  Exemption from requirements for withdrawal of a single 
municipality from a regional school unit.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, section 1466, the Commissioner of Education shall authorize the 
Town of Arundel to withdraw from Regional School Unit No. 21. 
Sec. 2.  Exemption from penalties applicable to a nonconforming school 
administrative unit.  Upon the withdrawal of the Town of Arundel from Regional 
School Unit No. 21 as set forth in section 1 and notwithstanding the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15696, the Town of Arundel is not subject to the penalties 
applicable to a nonconforming school administrative unit. 
Sec. 3.  Exemption from school administrative unit reorganization 
requirements; submission of notice of intent.  Upon the withdrawal of the Town of 
Arundel from Regional School Unit No. 21 as set forth in section 1 and notwithstanding 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 103-A and Public Law 2007, chapter 
240, Part XXXX, as amended, the Town of Arundel is not required to join with another 
regional school unit or alternative organizational structure.  The Town of Arundel is 
required to submit a notice of intent to the Commissioner of Education for the purpose of 
receiving approval as a regional school unit pursuant to Title 20-A, section 1461, 
subsection 3, paragraph C, subparagraph (2). 
In administering Title 20-A, chapter 103-A and for the purposes of implementing 
Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX, section 36, as amended, the Commissioner of 
Education shall determine that the Town of Arundel has exercised due diligence and 
demonstrated all reasonable and practical means of satisfying the requirements of Title 
20-A, section 1461, shall approve a notice of intent submitted by the Town of Arundel 
and shall provide an exemption from and accommodations to Title 20-A, chapter 103-A 
similar to those provided to other school administrative units that were approved as 
regional school units pursuant to the requirements as set forth in Title 20-A, section 1461, 
subsection 3, paragraph C, subparagraph (2). 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill exempts the Town of Arundel from certain requirements contained in the 
school administrative unit reorganization law.  The bill accomplishes the following. 
1.  It exempts the Town of Arundel from the requirements pertaining to the 
withdrawal of a single municipality from a regional school unit. 
2.  It provides that the Town of Arundel may not be subject to the penalties applicable 
to a nonconforming school administrative unit. 
3.  It exempts the Town of Arundel from the requirement that it join with another 
regional school unit or alternative organizational structure. 
4.  It provides that, upon the submission of a notice of intent to the Commissioner of 
Education, the commissioner is required to treat the Town of Arundel in a manner similar 
to the treatment of other school administrative units that were approved as regional 
school units after receiving exemptions from and accommodations to the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 103-A.