An Act To Repeal the Repeal Provision in the Law That Limits the Reduction of State Subsidy for Education
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0367
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: HAMPER, MAKER, JACKSON
Amends: 20-A MRSA §15690

Legislative Document 
No. 367 
S.P. 147 
In Senate, February 12, 2013 
An Act To Repeal the Repeal Provision in the Law That Limits the 
Reduction of State Subsidy for 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 HAMPER of Oxford. 
Cosponsored by Representative MAKER of Calais and 
Representative: JACKSON of Oxford. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, continuing budgetary conditions limit the ability of state and local 
governments to fund the full cost of the components of essential programs and services as 
required under the school funding laws; and 
Whereas, a provision of law will be repealed June 30, 2013 that protects a school 
administrative unit from a reduction of state subsidy if the unit raises less than the 
percentage of the total cost of essential programs and services required under the school 
funding laws as long as the unit raises at least the same percentage of the local share as 
the State raises of the State's share; and  
Whereas, it is necessary to continue this protection provided to school 
administrative units by repealing the repeal provision before June 30, 2013; 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 §15690, sub-§1, ¶D, as amended by PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. C, 
§12, is further amended to read: 
D.  Beginning in fiscal year 2010-11, in any fiscal year in which the sum of the 
State's contribution toward the cost of the components of essential programs and 
services, exclusive of federal funds that are provided and accounted for in the cost of 
the components of essential programs and services, plus any federal stimulus funds 
applied to the State's contribution, falls below the State's target of 55% of the cost of 
the components of essential programs and services, the commissioner shall calculate 
the percentage of the State's 55% share that is funded by state appropriations and 
federal stimulus funds and, notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, a 
school administrative unit that raises at least the same percentage of its required local 
contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 
12, including state-funded debt service, as the State's contribution plus federal 
stimulus funds toward its 55% share of the cost of the components of essential 
programs and services may not have the amount of its state subsidy limited or 
reduced under paragraph C. 
This paragraph is repealed June 30, 2013. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill repeals the repeal provision in the law that exempts a school administrative 
unit from a reduction in its state subsidy for failure to raise its required local contribution 
to the total cost of funding public education if the unit raises the same percentage of the 
local contribution as the State raises of the state contribution.