An Act To Provide an Improved Process for Voter Approval of Withdrawal from a Regional School Unit
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1027
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: PARRY, LANGLEY, CHENETTE, POULIOT, MILLETT, VALENTINO
Amends: 20-A MRSA §1466

Legislative Document 
No. 1027 
H.P. 722 
House of Representatives, March 14, 2013 
An Act To Provide an Improved Process for Voter Approval of 
Withdrawal from a Regional School Unit 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative PARRY of Arundel. 
Cosponsored by Senator LANGLEY of Hancock and 
Representatives: CHENETTE of Saco, MacDONALD of Boothbay, McCLELLAN of 
Raymond, POULIOT of Augusta, Senators: MILLETT of Cumberland, VALENTINO of York. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, improving the process for a municipality to withdraw from a regional 
school unit is imperative for certain municipalities before the beginning of the next 
school year in September; 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 §1466, sub-§4, ¶E is enacted to read: 
E.  If the withdrawal committee cannot reach an agreement within 150 days from the 
date the withdrawal committee is formed under paragraph A, the petitioning 
municipality shall inform the department that an agreement cannot be reached.  Upon 
notice that an agreement cannot be reached under this paragraph, the commissioner 
shall determine the terms of the final agreement based upon the standards set forth in 
paragraph A, which must provide for appropriate educational and related services to 
the students of the petitioning municipality and for the orderly transition of assets, 
governance and other matters related to the petitioning municipality and the regional 
school unit. Pursuant to paragraph C, the commissioner shall send notice of a final 
agreement under this paragraph to the regional school unit board and the municipal 
officers by registered mail stating the time and place of a public hearing for approval 
of the agreement. 
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §1466, sub-§10, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 580, §9, is 
amended to read: 
B.  A municipal vote on a withdrawal agreement if the agreement received less than 
60% of the votes cast, except as provided for under subsection 10-A. 
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §1466, sub-§10-A is enacted to read: 
10-A.  Withdrawal agreement if defeat receives at least 45% of votes cast.  If 
approval of a withdrawal agreement is defeated upon a municipal vote but the agreement 
received at least 45% of the votes cast, a municipality may petition for withdrawal at any 
time. This subsection is repealed January 1, 2015. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the laws concerning withdrawal of a municipality from a regional 
school unit by: 
1. Directing the Commissioner of Education to determine the terms of a withdrawal 
agreement if a withdrawal committee cannot reach agreement within 150 days after 
formation of the committee; and 
2. Until January 1, 2015, allowing a revote at any time for approval of a withdrawal 
agreement if the agreement was defeated upon a municipal vote but received at least 45% 
of the votes cast.