An Act To Limit the Amount a School Administrative Unit May Spend without Voter Approval
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0666
Committee Amendment CA_A_H217 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 458, L.D. 666, Bill, "An Act To Limit 
the Amount a School Administrative Unit May Spend without Voter Approval" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Create a Working Group To Survey Maine Schools on the Costs and 
Benefits of Contracting for Energy Conservation Improvements' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Department of Education to convene working group. Resolved: 
That the Department of Education shall convene a working group to study the 
opportunities and challenges presented to school administrative units with respect to 
implementing energy savings programs and entering into agreements for energy 
conservation improvements for public schools in the State. The working group shall 
conduct a survey of school boards and superintendents in the State and evaluate the costs 
and benefits of energy savings programs established by school boards, including 
agreements entered into by school administrative units in accordance with the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15915. The working group shall request that school 
boards and superintendents provide copies of school administrative units' agreements for 
energy conservation improvements and [mancial information related to such agreements 
or other energy savings programs. The working group shall also consider other options 
available to school boards that can reduce the costs and increase the benefits of energy 
savings programs and energy conservation improvements; and be it further 
Sec. 2. 
Working group; report. Resolved: That the Commissioner of 
Education shall seek to include in the working group under section 1 state agency 
officials, school board members, superintendents, school budget managers, energy 
efficiency specialists and other persons, groups or entities that have an interest in energy 
savings programs and energy conservation improvements in public schools in the State. 
The Commissioner of Education shall invite to serve as members of the working group 
representatives of the following state agencies and educational associations, who are 
appointed by their respective agencies or associations: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
,r'"'c -
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 458, L.D. 666 
1. The Department of Education; 
2. The Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of General 
Services; 
3. The Efficiency Maine Trust; 
4. The Maine School Boards Association; 
5. The Maine School Superintendents Association; and 
6. The Maine Association of School Business Officials. 
By January 10, 2014, the Department of Education shall report the findings and 
recommendations of the working group along with any suggested legislation to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. The joint standing committee 
may submit a bill regarding the subject of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 
126th Legislature; and be it further 
0··~_ 
Sec. 3. Funding. Resolved: That the costs to convene the working group and to 
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conduct the study required pursuant to section 1 must be absorbed within existing 
budgeted resources of the Department of Education and through the use of federal and 
private funds received by the Department Of Education; the Department of Administrative 
and Financial Services, Bureau of General Services; and the Efficiency Maine Trust to 
carry out the purposes of this resolve. I 
S~RY 
This amendment strikes the bill and replaces it with a resolve that directs the 
Department of Education to convene a working group to study the opportunities and 
challenges presented to school administrative units with respect to implementing energy 
savings programs, including entering into agreements for energy conservation 
improvements, and to report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural 
Affairs by January 10,2014. The joint standing committee is authorized to submit a bill 
to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature. 
FISCAL :'\OTE REQUIRED. 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/19/13 .;tvac:. 
LD666 
LR 586(02) 
An Act To Limit the Amount a School Administrative Unit May Spend without Voter Approval 
Fiscal Note for Bill .s Amended by Committee Amendment It ( H ' d I ~ 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The ability of the Department of Education to convene the required working group and conduct the required study 
within existing budgeted resources without impacting other existing programs and services provided by the 
department can not be determined at this time. The costs to the Bureau of General Services within the Department of 
Administrative and Financial Services and the Efficiency Maine Trust are expected to be minor. 
LR0586(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1