An Act To Clarify Expenditures Regarding Androscoggin County
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1489
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: ROTUNDO, BROOKS, GOLDEN, LAJOIE, LIBBY
Amends: 20-A MRSA §15689-A

Legislative Document 
No. 1489 
H.P. 1012 
House of Representatives, December 23, 2015 
An Act To Clarify Expenditures Regarding Androscoggin County 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 21, 2015.  Referred to the Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to 
Joint Rule 401. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative ROTUNDO of Lewiston. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: BROOKS of Lewiston, GOLDEN of Lewiston, LAJOIE of 
Lewiston, Senator: LIBBY of Androscoggin. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, in Public Law 2015, chapter 267, the so-called biennial budget, the 
education funding formula law was amended to require the Commissioner of Education 
to disburse $75,000 over each of the fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17 for postsecondary 
education attainment in Androscoggin County; and 
Whereas, the intent of the Legislature, as stated in the budget's summary, was to 
provide this funding to College for ME - Androscoggin as had been done in fiscal year 
2013-14; and 
Whereas, the Commissioner of Education has not disbursed the funds since the 
intended recipient was not specifically named; and 
Whereas, this legislation provides clarity by specifically naming College for ME - 
Androscoggin as the recipient of funding to allow for the disbursement of funds before 
the end of this fiscal year; 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 §15689-A, sub-§24, as amended by PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. C, 
§14, is repealed. 
Sec. 2.  Payment of funds in fiscal year 2015-16 to College for ME - 
Androscoggin.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Controller shall 
pay $75,000 to College for ME - Androscoggin no later than June 30, 2016 from funds 
appropriated to the All Other line category in the Department of Education, General 
Purpose Aid for Local Schools Program General Fund account in fiscal year 2015-16 to 
support individuals aspiring to attend college and support postsecondary degree 
attainment initiatives in Androscoggin County. 
Sec. 3.  Payment of funds in fiscal year 2016-17 to College for ME - 
Androscoggin.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Controller shall 
pay $75,000 to College for ME - Androscoggin no later than June 30, 2017 from funds 
appropriated to the All Other line category in the Department of Education, General 
Purpose Aid for Local Schools Program General Fund account in fiscal year 2016-17 to 
support individuals aspiring to attend college and support postsecondary degree initiatives 
in Androscoggin County. 
Sec. 4.  Retroactivity.  That section of this Act that repeals the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15689-A, subsection 24 applies retroactively to June 30, 
2015. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
Public Law 2015, chapter 267 amended the education funding formula statute to 
require the Commissioner of Education to disburse $75,000 over each of the fiscal years 
2015-16 and 2016-17 for postsecondary education attainment in Androscoggin County; 
the intent of this disbursement was to provide funding to College for ME - Androscoggin 
to provide financial assistance for individuals in Androscoggin County who wanted to 
attend college or obtain a postsecondary degree.  Because College for ME - 
Androscoggin was not specifically named in the amended statute, the funds were not 
disbursed. 
This bill repeals the statute requiring the Commissioner of Education to disburse the 
funds and instead requires the State Controller to disburse $75,000 to College for ME - 
Androscoggin in each of the fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17.  The funds are 
appropriated from the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools Program General Fund 
account to be used to support individuals aspiring to attend college and support 
postsecondary degree attainment initiatives in Androscoggin County.