An Act To Amend the Student Membership Criteria of the State Board of Education
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0244
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: MILLETT, DAUGHTRY, JOHNSON, LANGLEY, NELSON
Amends: 20-A MRSA §401

Legislative Document 
No. 244 
S.P. 80 
In Senate, February 5, 2013 
An Act To Amend the Student Membership Criteria of the State 
Board of Education 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator MILLETT of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative DAUGHTRY of Brunswick and 
Senators: JOHNSON of Lincoln, LANGLEY of Hancock, Representative: NELSON of 
Falmouth. 
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 State Board of Education has 2 student members on the board; and 
Whereas, one student must represent the State's First Congressional District and the 
other student must represent the State's Second Congressional District; and 
Whereas, with the recent redistricting, there is a possibility that a student may reside 
in one congressional district and attend school in the other congressional district; and 
Whereas, it is important that this legislation take effect as soon as possible so that 
the students will represent the congressional districts that they were appointed to 
represent; 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Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §401, sub-§1, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 695, 
Pt. A, §21, is amended to read: 
1.  Appointment.  The state board consists of 9 members 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.  Four members must reside in the State's 
First Congressional District at the time of appointment, 4 members must reside in the 
State's Second Congressional District at the time of appointment and one member may 
reside in either the First Congressional District or the Second Congressional District at 
the time of appointment.  One of the student members must reside attend school in the 
State's First Congressional District at the time of appointment and the other student 
member must reside attend school in the State's Second Congressional District at the time 
of appointment.  Each appointment is subject to review by the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters and to confirmation by the 
Senate. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill changes the criteria for the student members of the State Board of 
Education.  Current law requires a student to reside in the congressional district that the 
student represents at the time of appointment.  This bill  requires the student to attend 
school in the congressional district the student represents at the time of appointment.