An Act To Update the Career and Technical Education Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1779
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: LANGLEY
Amends: 20-A MRSA §254, 20-A MRSA §2413, 20-A MRSA §3002, 20-A MRSA §6952, 20-A MRSA §8301-A, 20-A MRSA §8305-A, 20-A MRSA §8306-A, 20-A MRSA §8306-B, 20-A MRSA §8307-A, 20-A MRSA §8401, 20-A MRSA §8402, 20-A MRSA §8403-A, 20-A MRSA §8404, 20-A MRSA §8405, 20-A MRSA §8451, 20-A MRSA §8451-A, 20-A MRSA §8457, 20-A MRSA §8459, 20-A MRSA §8463, 20-A MRSA §8466, 20-A MRSA §12703, 20-A MRSA §12704, 20-A MRSA §13019-C, 20-A MRSA §15672, 30-A MRSA §4722

Legislative Document 
No. 1779 
S.P. 616 
In Senate, January 19, 2012 
An Act To Update the Career and Technical Education Laws 
(EMERGENCY) 
Submitted by the Department of Education pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator LANGLEY of Hancock. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, federal law requires that states report the number of students who meet 
career and technical education standards; and 
Whereas, career and technical education centers and regions must provide programs 
and courses aligned with career and technical education standards; and 
Whereas, to ensure that career and technical education providers in this State meet 
the federally required career and technical education standards, the State must adopt 
national industry standards, or state-level standards where national industry standards are 
not available; and 
Whereas, career and technical education regions, centers and programs must file 
applications to the Maine Department of Education for approval in July 2012; and 
Whereas, the amendments proposed in this Act must be in place by July 1, 2012; 
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.  20-A MRSA §254, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 693, §§5 and 8 and 
amended by PL 2005, c. 397, Pt. D, §3, is further amended to read: 
3.  Contracts for career and technical educational programs.  The commissioner 
may: 
A.  Contract with a private school for the conduct of vocational career and technical 
education courses in accordance with section 3002; and 
B.  Reimburse the private schools for part of the cost of conducting approved 
vocational career and technical education courses from funds available from the 
Federal Government for the purpose of career and technical education. 
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §2413, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 414, §5, is 
amended to read: 
A.  For each public charter school student, the school administrative unit in which the 
student resides must forward the per-pupil allocation to the public charter school 
attended by the student as follows. 
(1)  The per-pupil allocation amount is the EPS per-pupil rate for the school 
administrative unit in which the student resides, as calculated pursuant to section 
15676, based on the student’s grade level and adjusted as appropriate for 
economic disadvantage and limited English proficiency pursuant to section 
15675, subsections 1 and 2.  For transportation expenses, the average per-pupil 
expense in each school administrative unit of residence must be calculated and a 
per-pupil allocation of that amount must be forwarded to the public charter 
school attended on the same basis as the per-pupil allocations for operating funds.  
Debt service and capital outlays may not be included in the calculation of these 
per-pupil allocations.  The department shall adopt rules governing how to 
calculate these per-pupil allocations, including those for gifted and talented 
programs, vocational, technical and career and technical education programs, and 
targeted funds for assessment technology and kindergarten to grade 2 programs. 
(2)  For students attending public charter schools, the school administrative unit 
of residence shall forward the per-pupil allocations described in subparagraph (1) 
directly to the public charter school attended.  These per-pupil allocations must 
be forwarded to each public charter school on a quarterly basis, as follows.  For 
each fiscal year, allocations must be made in quarterly payments on September 
1st, December 1st, March 1st and June 1st.  The September payment must be 
based on the number of students enrolled or anticipated to be enrolled in the 
public charter school at the opening of school for that school year, which may not 
exceed the maximum enrollment approved in the charter contract for that year 
unless a waiver is obtained from the authorizer.  In February of the school year, if 
the number of students is higher or lower than the number of students at the 
beginning of the school year, adjustments must be made in the June payment, 
with 50% of the annual per-pupil allocation added for additional students or 
subtracted if the total number of students is lower. 
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §3002, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8 and 
amended by PL 2005, c. 397, Pt. D, §3, is further amended to read: 
§3002.  Career and technical education 
The commissioner may contract with a private school, which is serving one or more 
municipalities in lieu of a public secondary school, for the conduct of vocational career 
and technical education courses which that meet the same standards for approval as those 
conducted in public secondary schools. 
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §6952, first ¶, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 296, §1, is 
amended to read: 
To qualify for support, approval and funding under this chapter, the center must 
provide services to at-risk students who are or have been enrolled in one or more of 
grades 7 to 12. The admission of an at-risk student to the center is subject to approval by 
the center based upon criteria of the center approved by the commissioner.  The center 
shall provide residential and nonresidential instruction that is approved pursuant to 
section 6951 and designed to effect positive, sustainable change in the lives of at-risk 
students through comprehensive on-site education services in 4 major areas, including 
high-quality scholastic, vocational career and technical and behavioral health education; 
training and support for families of students; training and support for public school 
teachers in dealing with students who are at risk of failing or dropping out of school; and 
providing an environment conducive to research aiding the improvement of education for 
at-risk students. 
Sec. 5.  20-A MRSA §8301-A, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 518, §2, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 6.  20-A MRSA §8305-A, sub-§1, ¶B, as corrected by RR 2003, c. 2, §43, is 
amended to read: 
B.  Receive career and technical education from a center, satellite program or region 
outside of the geographical area that serves the person's residence, subject to the 
approval of the commissioner and the governing bodies of the sending unit and 
receiving center, satellite program or region. 
Sec. 7.  20-A MRSA §8305-A, sub-§3, as corrected by RR 2003, c. 2, §43, is 
amended to read: 
3.  Adult participation in career and technical education courses.  Persons who 
are 20 years of age or older or who have graduated from a secondary school and who 
otherwise comply with the requirements of this section may receive career and technical 
education in a career and technical education course if, after all other eligible persons 
have been enrolled in that course, space exists to accommodate participation by persons 
who are 20 years of age or older or who have graduated from a secondary school.  A 
region, center or satellite program may charge reasonable fees to persons who are 20 
years of age or older and who receive career and technical education pursuant to this 
section subsection. 
Sec. 8.  20-A MRSA §8306-A, as corrected by RR 2003, c. 2, §46, is repealed. 
Sec. 9.  20-A MRSA §8306-B is enacted to read: 
§8306-B.  Approval of programs and courses;  industry standards 
1.  Rules.  The commissioner may adopt rules to establish requirements for career 
and technical education programs and courses in alignment with the system of learning 
results established in section 6209, to establish procedures for approving career and 
technical education programs and courses and to otherwise carry out the purposes of this 
chapter.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined 
in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
2.  Approval required.  A career and technical education program must be approved 
by the commissioner, in accordance with this chapter, in order to: 
A.  Be offered by a career and technical education center, region or affiliated unit; 
B.  Receive state subsidy; or 
C.  Receive approval for federal funding, except that the commissioner may approve 
federal funding for new and emerging industry programs prior to granting approval 
for the career and technical education program. 
3.  Industry standards.  An approved career and technical education program must 
be designed to enable a student to meet industry standards applicable to the program. 
A.  The commissioner shall establish an industry stakeholder group to recommend 
industry standards to be met in each program offered by a career and technical 
education region, center or affiliated unit. 
B.  The industry stakeholder group under paragraph A shall recommend national 
industry standards for each program, unless there are no relevant, applicable national 
industry standards or the group determines that the national industry standards do not 
meet the needs of students and employers in this State. 
C.  If the industry stakeholder group under paragraph A does not recommend a 
national industry standard for a program, the commissioner shall convene one or 
more stakeholder groups to adopt or create state industry standards for that program. 
D.  The commissioner shall accept or reject the industry stakeholder group's 
recommendations under this subsection.  If the commissioner accepts the 
recommendations, those industry standards become the applicable industry standards 
for the program.  If the commissioner rejects the recommendations, the commissioner 
shall either designate alternative standards or ask the stakeholder group to make other 
recommendations. 
4.  Coordination with postsecondary programs.  Career and technical education 
programs offered at secondary career and technical education centers and regions must be 
coordinated with appropriate postsecondary programs when applicable. 
5.  Application.  A statewide career and technical education program seeking 
approval from the commissioner after the effective date of this section must meet the 
requirements of this section.  A program approved by the commissioner prior to the 
effective date of this section must meet the requirements of this section by July 1, 2012. 
Sec. 10.  20-A MRSA §8307-A, sub-§6, as corrected by RR 2003, c. 2, §50, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 11.  20-A MRSA §8307-A, sub-§§7 and 8, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 518, 
§8, are repealed. 
Sec. 12.  20-A MRSA §8401, as amended by PL 1991, c. 518, §11 and c. 655, §8, 
is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
§8401.  Career and technical education centers 
1.  Centers established.  A career and technical education center must be operated in 
the following school administrative units: 
A.  Augusta; 
B.  Biddeford; 
C.  Calais; 
D.  Lewiston; 
E.  Machias; 
F.  Portland; 
G.  Sanford; 
H.  Waterville; 
I.  Westbrook; 
J.  School Administrative District No. 46 (Dexter, Exeter, Garland and Ripley); 
K.  Regional School Unit No. 1 (Arrowsic, Bath, Phippsburg, West Bath and 
Woolwich); 
L.  Regional School Unit No. 9 doing business as School Administrative District No. 
(Chesterville, Farmington, Industry, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Temple, Vienna, 
Weld and Wilton); 
M.  Regional School Unit No. 24 (Eastbrook, Ellsworth, Franklin, Gouldsboro, 
Hancock, Lamoine, Mariaville, Sorrento, Steuben, Sullivan, Waltham and Winter 
Harbor); 
N.  Regional School Unit No. 39 (Caribou, Limestone and Stockholm); 
O.  Regional School Unit No. 54 doing business as School Administrative District 
No. 54 (Canaan, Cornville, Mercer, Norridgewock, Skowhegan and Smithfield); 
P.  Regional School Unit No. 61 doing business as School Administrative District 
No. 61 (Bridgton, Casco, Naples and Sebago); 
Q.  Regional School Unit No. 79 doing business as School Administrative District 
No. 1 (Castle Hill, Chapman, Mapleton, Presque Isle and Westfield); 
R.  Regional School Unit No. 88 doing business as School Administrative District 
No. 24 (Cyr Plantation, Hamlin and Van Buren); and 
S.  St. John Valley for Alternative Organizational Structure 62 (Madawaska and 
Grand Isle), School Administrative District No. 10 (Allagash), School Administrative 
District No. 27 (Eagle Lake, Fort Kent, New Canada, St. Francis, St. John Plantation, 
Wallagrass and Winterville Plantation) and Regional School Unit No. 33 doing 
business as School Administrative District No. 33 (Frenchville and St. Agatha). 
Sec. 13.  20-A MRSA §8402, as amended by PL 2007, c. 667, §12, is further 
amended to read: 
§8402.  Programs 
A center shall provide programs of career and technical education.  Programs of 
career and technical education are eligible to receive state subsidy pursuant to chapters 
606-B and 609.  All programs of career and technical education offered by a center must 
be approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 8306-A 8306-B, including 
programs previously approved under former section 8306-A.  The programs must offer a 
sequence of courses that are directly related to the preparation of individuals for 
employment in current or emerging occupations and may include training and education 
in academic and business skills preparing students to further their education at the 
community college or other college level or allowing students to use trade and 
occupational skills on other than an employee basis.  Programs of career and technical 
education may also include alternative education programs and training and education in 
music, athletics, art and other activities approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 
8306-A. 
Sec. 14.  20-A MRSA §8403-A, sub-§2, as corrected by RR 2003, c. 2, §56, is 
amended to read: 
2.  Procedure for authorizing career and technical education satellite programs.  
Any affiliated unit that wishes to operate a career and technical education satellite 
program shall submit a written request to operate such a satellite program to the 
governing body of the center with which the unit is affiliated.  The request must fully 
document the perceived need for the operation of a satellite program.  The governing 
body of the center with which the unit is affiliated shall consider the request and forward 
its recommendation to the commissioner concerning whether that request should be 
approved.  The commissioner shall act on the request pursuant to section 8306-A 8306-B. 
Sec. 15.  20-A MRSA §8403-A, sub-§8 is enacted to read: 
8.  Access.  A unit that operates a satellite program shall allow access by students 
from units affiliated with the career and technical education center or region. 
Sec. 16.  20-A MRSA §8404, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §26 
and affected by §§72 and 74 and c. 12, Pt. WW, §18, is further amended to read: 
3.  Duties.  The advisory committee: 
A.  Shall advise and assist the center and its satellite programs in the preparation and 
submission of an annual report on the center and satellite programs to the 
commissioner and to each municipality served by the center or satellite programs; 
B.  Shall develop a cooperative agreement delineating the duties and powers of the 
advisory committee.  A cooperative agreement or any amendment to the agreement 
must be ratified by the school board of each unit or affiliated unit served by the 
center.  A cooperative agreement must be reviewed annually by the advisory 
committee and submitted by the center and its affiliated units to the commissioner; 
and 
C.  Shall, in the event that the school boards of School Administrative District No. 
27, School Administrative District No. 33 and Madawaska School Department enter 
into a cooperative agreement pursuant to section 8401 and a new career and technical 
education center in Maine School Administrative District No. 33 becomes 
operational, devise a cost sharing formula for the center established thereby 
pertaining to the cost of career and technical education programs that exceed 
expenditures made for those programs in the base year as adjusted pursuant to section 
15681-A, subsection 4 and to the local share of debt service costs attributable to 
construction of the center in School Administrative District No. 33; 
D.  May devise a formula for sharing costs of the center among the member units 
served by that center.  Such a formula or any amendment to the formula must be 
ratified by the school board of each unit or affiliated unit served by the center.  Any 
such unit may withdraw, subject to obligations incurred by the unit for any debt 
issued previously by or for the benefit of the center, from such a cost-sharing formula 
at the end of any fiscal year following one year's written notice to all other units 
served by the center.  Following withdrawal by such a unit, the center shall, if the unit 
wishes, continue to serve that unit under a financial arrangement approved by the 
center that does not assess the unit a per pupil assessment that exceeds the per pupil 
assessments of the other participating units;. 
E.  Shall, for the purposes of calculating program costs for state subsidy purposes for 
fiscal year 2000-01 for the City of Portland and the other school units affiliated with 
Portland Arts and Technology High School, reallocate the total career and technical 
education costs of Portland Arts and Technology High School for fiscal year 1998-99 
among the City of Portland and those units on the basis of the average of the 
percentage of the number of pupils attending Portland Arts and Technology High 
School from the City of Portland and each of those units on October 1, 1997 and 
October 1, 1998; 
F.  Shall, for the purposes of calculating program costs for state subsidy purposes for 
fiscal year 2001-02 for the City of Portland and the other school units affiliated with 
Portland Arts and Technology High School, reallocate the total career and technical 
education costs for fiscal year 1999-00 among the City of Portland and those units on 
the basis of the average of the percentage of the number of pupils attending Portland 
Arts and Technology High School from the City of Portland and each of those units 
on October 1, 1998 and October 1, 1999; 
G.  Shall, for the purposes of calculating program costs for state subsidy purposes of 
fiscal year 2000-01 for the City of Westbrook and the other school units affiliated 
with Westbrook Regional Vocational Center, reallocate the total career and technical 
education costs of Westbrook Regional Vocational Center for fiscal year 1998-99 
among the City of Westbrook and those units on the basis of the average of the 
percentage of the number of pupils attending Westbrook Regional Vocational Center 
from the City of Westbrook and each of those units on October 1, 1997 and October 
1, 1998; and 
H.  Shall, for the purposes of calculating program costs for state subsidy purposes for 
the fiscal year 2001-02 for the City of Westbrook and the other school units affiliated 
with Westbrook Regional Vocational Center, reallocate the total career and technical 
education costs of Westbrook Regional Vocational Center for fiscal year 1999-00 
among the City of Westbrook and those units on the basis of the average of the 
percentage of the number of pupils attending Westbrook Regional Vocational Center 
from the City of Westbrook and each of those units on October 1, 1998 and October 
1, 1999. 
Sec. 17.  20-A MRSA §8405, as amended by PL 1991, c. 518, §16 and c. 716, §7 
and PL 2003, c. 545, §6, is further amended to read: 
§8405.  Director 
A unit operating a center shall employ a certified career and technical education 
director. 
1.  Qualifications.  The career and technical education director must meet the 
qualifications prescribed by the state board in accordance with section 13011, subsection 
5. 
2.  Administrative status.  The career and technical education director shall serve as 
chief administrative officer of the center and has the authority of a principal in the unit 
operating the center. 
Sec. 18.  20-A MRSA §8451, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 39, §1 and PL 
2003, c. 545, §5, is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
2.  Boundaries.  The career and technical education regions have boundaries as 
follows. 
B.  Region 2.  SOUTHERN AROOSTOOK COUNTY.  Units located in this region 
include: 
(1)  Bancroft; 
(2)  Benedicta Township; 
(3)  Orient; 
(4)  Regional School Unit No. 29 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 29 (Hammond, Houlton, Littleton and Monticello); 
(5)  Regional School Unit No. 50 (Crystal, Dyer Brook, Hersey, Island Falls, 
Merrill, Moro Plantation, Mount Chase, Oakfield, Patten, Sherman, Smyrna and 
Stacyville); 
(6)  Regional School Unit No. 70 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 70 (Amity, Cary Plantation, Haynesville and Hodgdon) and Linneus, 
Ludlow and New Limerick; and 
(7)  Regional School Unit No. 84 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 14 (Danforth and Weston). 
C.  Region 3.  NORTHERN PENOBSCOT COUNTY.  Units located in this region 
include: 
(1)  Carroll Plantation; 
(2)  Drew Plantation; 
(3)  East Millinocket; 
(4)  Glenwood Plantation; 
(5)  Lakeville; 
(6)  Lambert Lake Township; 
(7)  Lowell; 
(8)  Macwahoc Plantation; 
(9)  Medford; 
(10)  Medway; 
(11)  Millinocket; 
(12)  Prentiss Township; 
(13)  Reed Plantation; 
(14)  Seboeis Plantation; 
(15)  Vanceboro; 
(16)  Woodville; 
(17)  Regional School Unit No. 30 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 30 (Lee, Springfield, Webster Plantation and Winn); 
(18)  Regional School Unit No. 31 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 31 (Burlington, Edinburg, Enfield, Howland, Maxfield and 
Passadumkeag); 
(19)  Regional School Unit No. 67 (Chester, Lincoln and Mattawamkeag); and 
(20)  East Range Community School District (Codyville Plantation and 
Topsfield). 
D.  Region 4.  SOUTHERN PENOBSCOT COUNTY.  Units located in this region 
include:  
(1)  Bangor; 
(2)  Brewer; 
(3)  Dedham; 
(4)  Grand Falls Township; 
(5)  Greenbush; 
(6)  Greenfield Township; 
(7)  Hermon; 
(8)  Indian Island, Penobscot Indian Reservation; 
(9)  Milford; 
(10)  Orrington; 
(11)  Regional School Unit No. 22 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 22 (Hampden, Newburgh and Winterport); 
(12)  Regional School Unit No. 26 (Glenburn, Orono and Veazie); 
(13)  Regional School Unit No. 34 (Alton, Bradley and Old Town); 
(14)  Regional School Unit No. 63 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 63 (Clifton, Eddington and Holden); 
(15)  Regional School Unit No. 64 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 64 (Bradford, Corinth, Hudson, Kenduskeag and Stetson); 
(16)  Regional School Unit No. 87 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 23 (Carmel and Levant); and 
(17)  Airline Community School District (Amherst, Aurora, Great Pond and 
Osborn). 
F.  Region 7.  WALDO COUNTY.  Units located in this region include: 
(1)  Regional School Unit No. 3 doing business as School Administrative District 
No. 3 (Brooks, Freedom, Jackson, Knox, Liberty, Monroe, Montville, Thorndike, 
Troy, Unity and Waldo); and 
(2)  Regional School Unit No. 20 (Belfast, Belmont, Frankfort, Morrill, 
Northport, Searsmont, Searsport, Stockton Springs and Swanville). 
G.  Region 8.  KNOX COUNTY.  Units located in this region include:  
(1)  Islesboro; 
(2)  Monhegan Island Plantation; 
(3)  Regional School Unit No. 7 doing business as School Administrative District 
No. 7 (North Haven); 
(4)  Regional School Unit No. 8 doing business as School Administrative District 
No. 8 (Vinalhaven); 
(5)  Regional School Unit No. 13 (Cushing, Owls Head, Rockland, St. George, 
South Thomaston and Thomaston); 
(6)  Regional School Unit No. 40 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 40 (Friendship, Union, Waldoboro, Warren and Washington); 
(7)  Regional School Unit No. 65 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 65 (Matinicus Isle Plantation); and 
(8)  Five Town Community School District (Appleton, Camden, Hope, 
Lincolnville and Rockport). 
H.  Region 9.  NORTHERN OXFORD COUNTY.  Units located in this region 
include: 
(1)  Albany Township; 
(2)  Gilead; 
(3)  Mason Township; 
(4)  Milton Township; 
(5)  Riley Township; 
(6)  Upton, as long as it sends its secondary students to schools operated by 
administrative units within the region; 
(7)  The portion of Regional School Unit No. 10 comprising the municipalities in 
the former units of Hanover, Peru, School Administrative District No. 21 
(Canton, Carthage and Dixfield) and School Administrative District No. 43 
(Byron, Mexico, Roxbury and Rumford); and 
(8)  Regional School Unit No. 44 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 44 (Andover, Bethel, Greenwood, Newry and Woodstock). 
I.  Region 10.  EASTERN CUMBERLAND-SAGADAHOC COUNTY.  Units 
located in this region include: 
(1)  Brunswick; 
(2)  Regional School Unit No. 5 (Durham, Freeport and Pownal); and 
(3)  Regional School Unit No. 75 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 75 (Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell and Topsham). 
J.  Region 11.  SOUTHERN OXFORD COUNTY.  Units located in this region 
include: 
(1)  The portion of Regional School Unit No. 10 comprising the municipalities in 
the former School Administrative Unit No. 39 (Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner); 
and 
(2)  Regional School Unit No. 17 doing business as School Administrative 
District No. 17 (Harrison, Hebron, Norway, Otisfield, Oxford, Paris, Waterford 
and West Paris). 
Sec. 19.  20-A MRSA §8451, sub-§5, as corrected by RR 2003, c. 2, §60, is 
amended to read: 
5.  Northern Aroostook County.  Northern Aroostook County is also a region. 
A.  Public secondary schools located at Van Buren, in the school administrative units 
of Madawaska, St. Agatha, Fort Kent and Allagash School Administrative District 
No. 10 (Allagash), School Administrative District No. 27 (Eagle Lake, Fort Kent, 
New Canada, St. Francis, St. John Plantation, Wallagrass and Winterville Plantation) 
and Regional School Unit No. 33 doing business as School Administrative District 
No. 33 (Frenchville and St. Agatha) are served by centers a center located in Van 
Buren, Madawaska and Fort Kent Frenchville (St. John Valley Technology Center), 
provided that in the event that as long as the school boards of former School 
Administrative District No. 27 (Eagle Lake, Fort Kent, New Canada, St. Francis, St. 
John 
Plantation, 
Wallagrass 
and 
Winterville 
Plantation), 
former 
School 
Administrative District No. 33 (Frenchville and St. Agatha) and Madawaska enter 
into a cooperative agreement pursuant to section 8401, the agreement must provide 
that if a new center located in Maine School Administrative District No. 33 becomes 
operational, career and technical education students from Maine School 
Administrative District No. 10 (Allagash) must be allocated slots in the career and 
technical education programs at the center as tuition students on the same basis as 
students from the 3 participating units and that career.  Career and technical 
education students from Regional School Unit No. 88 doing business as School 
Administrative District No. 24 (Cyr Plantation, Hamlin and Van Buren) must be 
permitted to attend that center on a tuition basis to the extent that there are unused 
slots available in the career and technical education programs at the center. 
B.  Notwithstanding sections 8452 to 8459, these the centers under paragraph A are 
governed by the school boards of the units operating the centers, but have an advisory 
committee, as defined in section 8404, for the Northern Aroostook County region, 
provided except that, in the event that the school boards of School Administrative 
District No. 27, Regional School Unit No. 33 doing business as School 
Administrative District No. 33 and the Madawaska School Department school 
administrative unit enter into a cooperative agreement pursuant to section 8401, the 
Northern Aroostook County advisory committee must be made up of representatives 
of those 3 administrative units and the advisory committee has authority to review 
applications for employment and personnel records relating to the career and 
technical education director and teachers in the career and technical education 
programs of the center in order for the advisory committee to make employment 
recommendations to the Superintendent of Schools of Maine Regional School Unit 
No. 33 doing business as School Administrative District No. 33. 
C.  In the event that School Administrative District No. 27, School Administrative 
District No. 33 and Madawaska School Department enter into a cooperative 
agreement pursuant to section 8401, not later than June 30, 1989, the school boards of 
the 3 participating units shall, in conjunction with the advisory committee, develop 
and submit a plan to the commissioner for providing secondary career and technical 
education within the 3 participating units.  The plan must include: 
(1)  A proposal for the construction of a new center in School Administrative 
District No. 33; 
(2)  Provisions for assignment without loss of salary of all continuing contract 
career and technical education teachers employed by School Administrative 
District No. 27 and Madawaska School Department to School Administrative 
District No. 33 if a new center in School Administrative District No. 33 becomes 
operational; and 
(3)  Assurances that all 3 participating administrative units, and School 
Administrative District No. 10 on a tuition basis, have access to programs at the 
new center in proportion to the number of high school students in each 
administrative unit. 
D.  The plan developed under paragraph C must be submitted to the commissioner for 
approval.  The commissioner may make necessary recommendations to the 
participating units to assist in the implementation of the plan for the school year 
1991-92. 
E.  If the school boards of School Administrative District No. 27, School 
Administrative District No. 33 and Madawaska enter into a cooperative agreement 
pursuant to section 8401 and if a plan developed under paragraph C is approved by 
the commissioner, School Administrative District No. 33 has the authority to 
undertake school construction projects for career and technical education in 
accordance with the provisions of chapter 609 and to borrow money and issue bonds 
and notes of the district for school construction projects in accordance with section 
1311 and sections 1351 to 1354. 
F.  Section 8301-A, subsection 6 and sections 8452 to 8467 do not apply to the region 
established for Northern Aroostook County under this section. 
Sec. 20.  20-A MRSA §8451-A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 667, §13, is further 
amended to read: 
§8451-A.  Programs 
A region shall provide programs of career and technical education.  Programs of 
career and technical education are eligible to receive state subsidy pursuant to chapters 
606-B and 609.  All programs of career and technical education offered by a region must 
be approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 8306-A 8306-B.  The programs 
must offer a sequence of courses that are directly related to the preparation of individuals 
for employment in current or emerging occupations and may include training and 
education in academic and business skills preparing students to further their education at 
the community college or college level or allowing students to use trade and occupational 
skills on other than an employee basis.  Programs of career and technical education may 
also include alternative education programs and training and education in music, 
athletics, art and other activities approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 
8306-A. 
Sec. 21.  20-A MRSA §8457, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 154, §4, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  General powers and duties.  A cooperative board has all of the powers and 
duties of a school board as provided in section 1001, subsections 1, 2, 4 to 7, 11-A and 
12; section 1002; section 1256, subsections 1, 2 and 4 to 7; section 1257; sections 1313 to 
1315; section 4801; section 13201; and section 13202.  For such purposes, references in 
those sections to "school administrative unit," "administrative unit," "school unit," "unit," 
"school administrative district" or "district" district," "district," "regional school unit," 
"RSU," "alternative organizational structure" or "AOS" mean career and technical 
education region; references in those sections to "school board," "school committee," 
"board," "board of directors" or "directors" mean cooperative board; references in those 
sections to "director" mean a member of a cooperative board; and references in those 
sections to "they" mean either, as appropriate in the context, cooperative board or 
members of the cooperative board. 
Sec. 22.  20-A MRSA §8459, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1991, c. 518, §26 and 
PL 2005, c. 397, Pt. D, §3, is further amended to read: 
2.  Meeting with career and technical education director.  Shall meet with the 
vocational career and technical education director of the region at least 4 times each 
calendar year to review current and proposed programs, budgets and issues relating to 
career and technical education in the region. 
Sec. 23.  20-A MRSA §8463, sub-§4 is enacted to read: 
4.  Late payments by member school units.  Late payment by a member unit of a 
career and technical education assessment is subject to a penalty that includes the 
established cost and all incurred expenses generated by the late payment, including 
interest. 
Sec. 24.  20-A MRSA §8466, as amended by PL 1991, c. 518, §31 and PL 2005, c. 
397, Pt. D, §3, is further amended to read: 
§8466.  Transfer or lease of school property to a career and technical education 
region 
1.  Authority.  A unit within a region may transfer or lease unused property of the 
unit to the region for career and technical education purposes. 
2.  Definitions.  For purposes of this section, "unit" includes a special school district 
is considered a unit. 
Sec. 25.  20-A MRSA §12703, as amended by PL 1989, c. 443, §35 and PL 2003, 
c. 20, Pt. OO, §2 and affected by §4, is further amended to read: 
§12703.  Mission and goals 
The basic mission of the Maine Community College System is to provide associate 
degree, diploma and certificate programs directed at the educational, occupational career 
and technical needs of the State's citizens and the workforce needs of the State's 
employers. 
The primary goals of post-secondary vocational-technical postsecondary career and 
technical education and the Maine Community College System are to create an educated, 
skilled and adaptable labor force which that is responsive to the changing needs of the 
economy of the State and to promote local, regional and statewide economic 
development. 
Sec. 26.  20-A MRSA §12704, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1991, c. 615, Pt. A, §1, 
is further amended to read: 
1.  Long-term and short-term training.  Providing, in close cooperation with the 
private sector, both the long-term education and training required for certain vocational 
career and technical occupations, including occupational health and safety aspects of 
those occupations, and the short-term training necessary to meet specific private sector 
and economic development needs; 
Sec. 27.  20-A MRSA §12704, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1989, c. 443, §36, is 
further amended to read: 
4.  General and related education.  Offering each college student a general 
education designed to complement specific vocational career and technical skills and 
offering courses and curricula designed to teach students to think clearly, logically and 
analytically and to comprehend the multiple dimensions and facets of public and private 
issues and problems; 
Sec. 28.  20-A MRSA §13019-C, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2001, c. 534, §9 and 
PL 2005, c. 397, Pt. D, §3, is further amended to read: 
1.  Initial certificate.  A director of career and technical education certificate shall be 
is required of each director of a vocational career and technical education region or center 
established pursuant to this Title and of a vocational career and technical education 
program in an approved school.  State board rules shall must require that qualifications 
for such a certificate include the following: 
A.  Three years of satisfactory experience in teaching or vocational career and 
technical education training or equivalent experience; 
B.  Academic and professional knowledge as demonstrated through completion of 
graduate or undergraduate courses or programs, performance in examinations or 
completion of specialized programs approved for this purpose; 
C.  A basic level of knowledge in competency areas determined by the state board; 
and 
D.  Satisfactory completion of an approved internship or practicum relating to the 
duties of a director of career and technical education. 
Sec. 29.  20-A MRSA §15672, sub-§1-D is enacted to read: 
1-D.  Career and technical education costs.  "Career and technical education costs" 
for subsidy purposes means all costs incurred by the career and technical education 
regions, centers or satellites in providing approved secondary school career and technical 
education programs, excluding transportation, capital costs and debt service. 
Sec. 30.  20-A MRSA §15672, sub-§32-D, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, 
§36 and affected by §§72 and 74 and c. 12, Pt. WW, §18, is repealed. 
Sec. 31.  30-A MRSA §4722, sub-§1, ¶Y, as amended by PL 2007, c. 562, §5, is 
further amended to read: 
Y.  Expand access to housing for young professionals and young families. The Maine 
State Housing Authority shall develop recommendations to create or modify 
programs with the goal of expanding access to housing for young professionals and 
young families.  The Maine State Housing Authority shall specifically consider 
strategies to assist renters and first-time home buyers who are under 35 years of age 
and explore options for linking assistance levels to student loan obligations.  The 
Maine State Housing Authority shall collaborate with the Maine Community College 
System, vocational high schools career and technical education programs and 
community action programs to encourage the development of affordable housing in 
high-cost housing areas of the State. 
(1)  The Maine State Housing Authority shall report its findings and 
recommendations regarding expanded access to housing for young professionals 
and young families to the Maine Development Foundation and to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over housing matters 
no later than January 15, 2005; 
Sec. 32.  Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause.  In 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 313, in the chapter headnote, the words 
"applied technology education" are amended to read "career and technical education" and 
the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or 
republishing the statutes. 
Sec. 33.  Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause.  In 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 313, subchapter 3, in the subchapter 
headnote, the words "applied technology centers" are amended to read "career and 
technical education centers" and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision 
when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes. 
Sec. 34.  Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause.  In 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 313, subchapter 4, in the subchapter 
headnote, the words "applied technology regions" are amended to read "career and 
technical education regions" and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision 
when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides an update in language for the career and technical education laws 
to reflect current terminology, including changing all statutory references to "vocational" 
education to "career and technical" education.  It requires all career and technical 
education programs to be based on national industry standards, or state-level standards if 
national industry standards are not available or applicable.  This bill also clarifies 
references to school units other than those school units composed of single towns in an 
effort to reduce confusion resulting from school reorganization.