An Act To Facilitate the Use of State Education Subsidies
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1475
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: MILLETT, MAKER, BREEN, DIAMOND, LANGLEY, LIBBY, THIBODEAU, BATTLE, HAMANN, POULIOT
Amends: 20-A MRSA §1485, 20-A MRSA §1486

Legislative Document 
No. 1475 
S.P. 573 
In Senate, December 18, 2015 
An Act To Facilitate the Use of State Education Subsidies 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 18, 2015.  Referred to the Committee 
on Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator MILLETT of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative MAKER of Calais and 
Senators: BREEN of Cumberland, DIAMOND of Cumberland, LANGLEY of Hancock, 
LIBBY of Androscoggin, President THIBODEAU of Waldo, Representatives: BATTLE of 
South Portland, HAMANN of South Portland, POULIOT of Augusta. 
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 changes made by this legislation could affect budget meetings of 
regional school units and town budgets; and 
Whereas, it is necessary that this legislation take effect prior to the expiration of the 
90-day period to allow towns to benefit from the legislation during the next annual budget 
process; 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 §1485, sub-§5 is enacted to read: 
5.  Additional state subsidy.  The warrant presented to the voters at a regional 
school unit budget meeting may include an article providing that, in the event that the 
regional school unit receives more state education subsidy than the amount included in its 
budget, the regional school unit board is authorized to use all or part of the additional 
subsidy to increase expenditures for school purposes in cost center categories approved 
by the regional school unit board.  If that article is approved by the voters at the budget 
meeting, the regional school unit board may increase expenditures for school purposes in 
cost center categories approved by the regional school unit board as provided in the 
article, without holding a special budget meeting and budget validation referendum. 
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §1486, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2009, c. 571, Pt. QQQ, 
§2, is further amended to read: 
2.  Validation referendum procedures.  The budget validation referendum must be 
held on or before the 30th calendar day following the scheduled date of the regional 
school unit budget meeting.  The referendum may not be held on a Sunday or legal 
holiday.  The vote at referendum is for the purpose of approving or rejecting the total 
regional school unit budget approved at the regional school unit budget meeting.  The 
regional school unit board shall provide printed information to be displayed at polling 
places to assist voters in voting.  That information is limited to the total amounts 
proposed by the regional school unit board for each cost center summary budget category 
article, the amount approved at the regional school unit budget meeting, a summary of the 
total authorized expenditures and, if applicable because of action on an article under 
section 15690, subsection 3, paragraph A, a statement that the amount approved at the 
regional school unit budget meeting includes locally raised funds that exceed the 
maximum state and local spending target pursuant to section 15671-A, subsection 5.  If 
the voters at the regional school unit budget meeting approve an article providing that, in 
the event that the regional school unit receives more state education subsidy than the 
amount included in its budget, the regional school unit board may increase expenditures 
for school purposes in cost center categories approved by the regional school unit board, 
the substance of the article must be included in the printed information displayed at 
polling places for the budget validation referendum. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill authorizes a regional school unit to include an article in the warrant for its 
annual budget meeting providing that, in the event that the regional school unit receives 
more state education subsidy than the amount included in its budget, the regional school 
unit board is authorized to increase expenditures for school purposes in cost center 
categories approved by the regional school unit board, without a special budget meeting 
and budget validation referendum.