An Act To Establish a Commission To Reform Public Education Funding and Improve Student Performance in Maine and Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of the Department of Education and To Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of Government for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2017
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1641
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: FREDETTE, ALFOND, EVES, THIBODEAU
Amends: 20-A MRSA §13007, 20-A MRSA §15671, 20-A MRSA §15671-A, 20-A MRSA §15686-A, 20-A MRSA §15689, 20-A MRSA §15689-C, 20-A MRSA §15690, 20-A MRSA §15905

Legislative Document 
No. 1641 
H.P. 1117 
House of Representatives, March 9, 2016 
An Act To Establish a Commission To Reform Public Education 
Funding and Improve Student Performance in Maine and Make 
Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures 
of the Department of Education and To Change Certain Provisions 
of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of Government for 
the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2017 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative FREDETTE of Newport.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
Cosponsored by Senator ALFOND of Cumberland and 
Representative: Speaker EVES of North Berwick, Senator: President THIBODEAU of Waldo. 
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 90-day period may not terminate until after the beginning of the next 
fiscal year; and 
Whereas, certain obligations and expenses incident to the operation of state 
departments and institutions will become due and payable immediately; and 
Whereas, costs for providing public education have increased at an alarming rate 
despite declining student populations and without significant improvement in student 
outcomes, requiring immediate attention to address the underlying condition and its 
consequences; 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: 
PART A 
Sec. A-1.  Commissioner of Education to convene commission.  The 
Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee, referred to in this Part as 
"the commissioner," shall convene, no later than May 1, 2016, a commission to reform 
public education funding and improve student performance in the State. 
1.  Members.  The commissioner shall invite to serve as members of the 
commission: 
A.  The Governor or the Governor's designee; 
B.  A representative of the Department of Education, appointed by the Governor, who 
shall serve as chair of the commission; 
C.  Notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the following 4 members of the Legislature: 
(1)  The member of the Legislature who is serving as the Senate Majority Leader 
or that leader's designee, who must be a member on the Legislative Council; 
(2)  The member of the Legislature who is serving as the Senate Minority Leader 
or that leader's designee, who must be a member on the Legislative Council; 
(3)  The member of the Legislature who is serving as the House Majority Leader 
or that leader's designee, who must be a member on the Legislative Council; and 
(4)  The member of the Legislature who is serving as the House Minority Leader 
or that leader's designee, who must be a member on the Legislative Council; 
D.  A person who is serving on the State Board of Education, designated by the chair 
of the State Board of Education; 
E.  A person who was named Maine Teacher of the Year on or after January 1, 2006, 
designated by the Maine Education Association; 
F.  A person who is serving on the Maine Charter School Commission established in 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 10-D, designated by 
the chair of the Maine Charter School Commission; 
G.  A person who is a teacher or administrator at one of the State's career and 
technical education centers, designated by Maine Administrators of Career and 
Technical Education; 
H.  A person designated by the Maine School Management Association; 
I.  The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the chancellor's designee; 
J.  The President of the Maine Community College System or the president's 
designee; and 
K.  Two members of the public, appointed by the Governor, at least one of whom has 
prior work experience in a municipal management role. 
2.  Vacancies; quorum.  In the event of a vacancy on the commission, the 
commissioner shall select a replacement member in the same manner as the original 
selection set forth in subsection 1.  A quorum consists of a majority of the nonvacant 
seats on the commission. 
3.  Meetings; duties.  The commission shall meet at least 6 times each year in 2016 
and in 2017. In order to identify solutions to lower the cost of public education and 
improve student performance, the commission shall collect and analyze data from all 
public secondary and postsecondary education units in the State that receive state 
funding. In conducting its review and analysis, the commission may: 
A.  Evaluate the success and shortcomings of the current funding formula for 
kindergarten to grade 12 education and propose changes to improve the funding 
formula; 
B.  Identify the causes of increased per-pupil education costs and develop proposals 
to help local school districts contain increasing costs; 
C.  Examine the State's special education spending, including its impact on school 
administrative units, and develop proposals to ensure the State's special education 
spending addresses the State's needs; 
D.  Identify trends and disparities across the State in student performance in 
kindergarten to grade 12 and develop recommendations for improvement; 
E.  Identify best practices for integrating technology into teaching and learning and 
develop proposals for statewide implementation of the best practices; 
F.  Review the existing laws governing the process of school administrative unit 
consolidation and withdrawal and identify improvements that will help lower costs 
and improve outcomes for school administrative units; 
G.  Evaluate teacher compensation throughout the State for adequacy and 
competitiveness and propose changes, as necessary; 
H.  Identify state and federal mandates for school administrative units that result in 
increased cost to local property tax payers and propose options for how these 
mandates might be addressed; 
I.  Assist school board and municipal leaders in identifying opportunities to leverage 
state or regional resources in order to reduce local costs; 
J.  Review the use of federal funds by school administrative units and identify 
challenges associated with requirements of those funding sources; 
K.  Examine the preparedness of students in the State to matriculate to the University 
of Maine System and the Maine Community College System and develop proposals 
to enhance the ability of public education from kindergarten to higher education to 
prepare students in the State for the modern workforce; 
L.  Evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of state funding provided to the Maine 
Community College System and the University of Maine System, the financial needs 
of each system and each system's tuition rates in order to develop a long-term 
strategy for the financial sustainability of each system; 
M.  Identify opportunities to partner with the private sector and private philanthropic 
organizations to identify opportunities to access additional resources to reduce the 
cost of public education and improve student performance in the State; and 
N.  Identify and evaluate additional issues that the commission determines might 
reduce the cost of education and improve student performance. 
4.  Staff assistance; funding.  The Department of Education shall provide necessary 
staffing services to the commission.  Funding for the commission must be provided from 
existing resources of the Department of Education. 
5.  Report; legislation.  By January 10, 2017 and January 10, 2018, the 
commissioner shall submit to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters a report of the commission that 
includes findings and recommendations for action to reform public education funding and 
improve student performance in the State. Notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, upon 
submission of each report of the commission, the commissioner is authorized to submit to 
the Legislature a bill to implement the commission's recommendations. 
6.  Expiration of commission.  The commission is authorized until July 31, 2018. 
PART B 
Sec. B-1.  Transfer from General Fund unappropriated surplus; general 
purpose aid for local schools; fiscal year 2016-17.  Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the State Controller shall transfer $15,000,000 from the General Fund 
unappropriated surplus to the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools program, General 
Fund account within the Department of Education no later than June 30, 2017. The State 
Budget Officer, upon approval of the Governor, shall allot the funds in this Part to the 
General Purpose Aid for Local Schools program, General Fund account within the 
Department of Education by financial order in fiscal year 2016-17.  This transfer is not 
considered an adjustment to appropriations. 
PART C 
Sec. C-1.  20-A MRSA §13007, sub-§2, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 702, §1, 
is amended to read: 
D.  Report and pay no more than $150,000 in fiscal year 2012-13, no more than 
$240,000 in fiscal year 2013-14 and no more than $335,000 in fiscal year 2014-15 
and each fiscal year thereafter from fees collected pursuant to subsection 1 to the 
Treasurer of State to be credited to the National Board Certification Salary 
Supplement Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of 
Education. 
Sec. C-2.  20-A MRSA §15671, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. 
C, §4, is further amended to read: 
1-A.  State funding for kindergarten to grade 12 public education.  Beginning in 
fiscal year 2016-17 2017-18 and in each fiscal year thereafter until the state share 
percentage of the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 
reaches 55% pursuant to subsection 7, paragraph B, the State shall increase the state share 
percentage of the funding for the cost of essential programs and services by at least one 
percentage point per year over the percentage of the previous year and the department, in 
allocating funds, shall make this increase in funding a priority.  For those fiscal years that 
the funding appropriated or allocated for the cost of essential programs and services is not 
sufficient to increase the state share percentage of the total cost of funding public 
education from kindergarten to grade 12 by at least one percentage point, no new 
programs or initiatives may be established for kindergarten to grade 12 public education 
within the department that would divert funds that would otherwise be distributed as 
general purpose aid for local schools pursuant to subsection 5. 
Sec. C-3.  20-A MRSA §15671, sub-§7, ¶B, as amended by PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. 
C, §6, is further amended to read: 
B.  The annual targets for the state share percentage of the statewide adjusted total 
cost of the components of essential programs and services are as follows. 
(1)  For fiscal year 2005-06, the target is 52.6%. 
(2)  For fiscal year 2006-07, the target is 53.86%. 
(3)  For fiscal year 2007-08, the target is 53.51%. 
(4)  For fiscal year 2008-09, the target is 52.52%. 
(5) For fiscal year 2009-10, the target is 48.93%. 
(6)  For fiscal year 2010-11, the target is 45.84%. 
(7)  For fiscal year 2011-12, the target is 46.02%. 
(8)  For fiscal year 2012-13, the target is 45.87%. 
(9)  For fiscal year 2013-14, the target is 47.29%. 
(10)  For fiscal year 2014-15, the target is 46.80%. 
(11)  For fiscal year 2015-16, the target is 47.54%. 
(12)  For fiscal year 2016-17, the target is 48.10%. 
Sec. C-4.  20-A MRSA §15671, sub-§7, ¶C, as amended by PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. 
C, §7, is further amended to read: 
C.  Beginning in fiscal year 2011-12, the annual targets for the state share percentage 
of the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 including 
the cost of the components of essential programs and services plus the state 
contributions to teacher retirement, retired teachers' health insurance and retired 
teachers' life insurance are as follows. 
(1)  For fiscal year 2011-12, the target is 49.47%. 
(2)  For fiscal year 2012-13, the target is 49.35%. 
(3)  For fiscal year 2013-14, the target is 50.44%. 
(4)  For fiscal year 2014-15, the target is 50.13%. 
(5)  For fiscal year 2015-16, the target is 50.08%. 
(6)  For fiscal year 2016-17 and succeeding years, the target is 55% 50.79%. 
(7)  For fiscal year 2017-18 and succeeding years, the target is 55%. 
Sec. C-5.  20-A MRSA §15671-A, sub-§2, ¶B, as amended by PL 2015, c. 267, 
Pt. C, §8, is further amended to read: 
B.  For property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2005, the commissioner shall 
calculate the full-value education mill rate that is required to raise the statewide total 
local share.  The full-value education mill rate is calculated for each fiscal year by 
dividing the applicable statewide total local share by the applicable statewide 
valuation.  The full-value education mill rate must decline over the period from fiscal 
year 2005-06 to fiscal year 2008-09 and may not exceed 9.0 mills in fiscal year 2005-
and may not exceed 8.0 mills in fiscal year 2008-09.  The full-value education mill 
rate must be applied according to section 15688, subsection 3-A, paragraph A to 
determine a municipality's local cost share expectation.  Full-value education mill 
rates must be derived according to the following schedule. 
(1)  For the 2005 property tax year, the full-value education mill rate is the 
amount necessary to result in a 47.4% statewide total local share in fiscal year 
2005-06. 
(2)  For the 2006 property tax year, the full-value education mill rate is the 
amount necessary to result in a 46.14% statewide total local share in fiscal year 
2006-07. 
(3)  For the 2007 property tax year, the full-value education mill rate is the 
amount necessary to result in a 46.49% statewide total local share in fiscal year 
2007-08. 
(4)  For the 2008 property tax year, the full-value education mill rate is the 
amount necessary to result in a 47.48% statewide total local share in fiscal year 
2008-09. 
(4-A)  For the 2009 property tax year, the full-value education mill rate is the 
amount necessary to result in a 51.07% statewide total local share in fiscal year 
2009-10. 
(4-B)  For the 2010 property tax year, the full-value education mill rate is the 
amount necessary to result in a 54.16% statewide total local share in fiscal year 
2010-11. 
(4-C)  For the 2011 property tax year, the full-value education mill rate is the 
amount necessary to result in a 53.98% statewide total local share in fiscal year 
2011-12. 
(5)  For the 2012 property tax year, the full-value education mill rate is the 
amount necessary to result in a 54.13% statewide total local share in fiscal year 
2012-13. 
(6)  For the 2013 property tax year, the full-value education mill rate is the 
amount necessary to result in a 52.71% statewide total local share in fiscal year 
2013-14. 
(7)  For the 2014 property tax year, the full-value education mill rate is the 
amount necessary to result in a 53.20% statewide total local share in fiscal year 
2014-15. 
(8)  For the 2015 property tax year, the full-value education mill rate is the 
amount necessary to result in a 52.46% statewide total local share in fiscal year 
2015-16. 
(9)  For the 2016 property tax year and subsequent tax years, the full-value 
education mill rate is the amount necessary to result in a 45% 51.90% statewide 
total local share in fiscal year 2016-17 and after. 
(10)  For the 2017 property tax year and subsequent tax years, the full-value 
education mill rate is the amount necessary to result in a 45% statewide total 
local share in fiscal year 2017-18 and after. 
Sec. C-6.  20-A MRSA §15686-A, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 519, Pt. 
AAAA, §12, is amended to read: 
3.  Components to be reviewed beginning in fiscal years 2008-09 and 2016-17.  
Beginning in fiscal year 2008-09, and at least every 3 years thereafter, the commissioner, 
using information provided by a statewide education policy research institute, shall 
review the essential programs and services professional development, student assessment, 
technology, leadership support, cocurricular and extra-curricular activities and, supplies 
and equipment and, beginning in fiscal year 2016-17, charter school components under 
this chapter and shall submit to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over education matters any recommended changes for legislative action. 
Sec. C-7.  20-A MRSA §15689, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. 
C, §13, is further amended to read: 
B.  The school administrative unit's special education costs as calculated pursuant to 
section 15681-A, subsection 2 multiplied by the following transition percentages: 
(1)  In fiscal year 2005-06, 84%; 
(2)  In fiscal year 2006-07, 84%; 
(3)  In fiscal year 2007-08, 84%;  
(4)  In fiscal year 2008-09, 45%;  
(5)  In fiscal year 2009-10, 40% including funds provided under Title XIV of the 
State Fiscal Stabilization Fund of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
of 2009; 
(6)  In fiscal year 2010-11, 35% including funds provided under Title XIV of the 
State Fiscal Stabilization Fund of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
of 2009;  
(7)  In fiscal year 2011-12, 30%; 
(8)  In fiscal year 2012-13, 30%; 
(9)  In fiscal year 2013-14, 35%; and 
(10)  In fiscal year 2014-15 and succeeding years, 30%.; 
(11)  In fiscal year 2015-16, 30%; 
(12)  In fiscal year 2016-17, 30%; 
(13)  In fiscal year 2017-18, 35%; 
(14)  In fiscal year 2018-19, 40%; 
(15)  In fiscal year 2019-20, 45%; and 
(16)  In fiscal year 2020-21 and succeeding years, 50%. 
Sec. C-8.  20-A MRSA §15689-C, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 275, §1, 
is further amended to read: 
1.  Annual recommendation. Prior to December 15th January 20th of each fiscal 
year, the commissioner, with the approval of the state board, shall recommend to the 
Governor and the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of the 
Budget the funding levels that the commissioner recommends for the purposes of this 
chapter.  Beginning with the recommendations due in 2009, the commissioner’s annual 
recommendations must be in the form and manner described in subsection 4. 
Sec. C-9.  20-A MRSA §15690, sub-§1, ¶C, as amended by PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. 
C, §15, is further amended to read: 
C.  The state share of the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to 
grade 12 as described in section 15688, excluding state-funded debt service for each 
school administrative unit, is limited to the same proportion as the local school 
administrative unit raises of its required contribution to the total cost of education as 
described in section 15688, excluding state-funded debt service costs.  For school 
administrative units that annually demonstrate savings by purchasing supplies using 
an electronic bidding forum, the commissioner may suspend all or a portion of any 
adjustment to the unit's state contribution pursuant to this paragraph. 
Sec. C-10.  20-A MRSA §15905, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2015, c. 267, 
Pt. C, §15, is further amended to read: 
A.  The state board may approve projects as long as no project approval will cause 
debt service costs, as defined in section 15672, subsection 2-A, paragraph A and 
pursuant to Resolve 2007, chapter 223, section 4, to exceed the maximum limits 
specified in Table 1 in subsequent fiscal years. 
Table 1 
Major Capital 
Integrated, Consolidated 
Secondary and Postsecondary 
Project
Fiscal year 
Maximum Debt Service Limit 
Maximum Debt Service Limit
1990 
$ 48,000,000 
1991 
$ 57,000,000 
1992 
$ 65,000,000 
1993 
$ 67,000,000 
1994 
$ 67,000,000 
1995 
$ 67,000,000 
1996 
$ 67,000,000 
1997 
$ 67,000,000 
1998 
$ 67,000,000 
1999 
$ 69,000,000 
2000 
$ 72,000,000 
2001 
$ 74,000,000 
2002 
$ 74,000,000 
2003 
$ 80,000,000 
2004 
$ 80,000,000 
2005 
$ 84,000,000 
2006 
$ 90,000,000 
2007 
$ 96,000,000 
2008 
$100,000,000 
2009 
$104,000,000 
2010 
$108,000,000 
2011 
$126,000,000 
2012 
 $116,000,000 
2013 
 $116,000,000 
2014 
 $126,000,000 
$10,000,000 
2015 
 $126,000,000 
$10,000,000 
2016 
 $126,000,000 
$10,000,000 
2017 
 $126,000,000 
$10,000,000 
Sec. C-11.  Mill expectation.  The mill expectation pursuant to the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15671-A for fiscal year 2016-17 is 8.30. 
Sec. C-12.  Total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to 
grade 12.  The total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 for 
fiscal year 2016-17 is as follows: 
2018 
$126,000,000 
$10,000,000 
2019 
$126,000,000 
$10,000,000 
2016-17
TOTAL
Total Operating Allocation 
Total operating allocation pursuant to the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15683 and total other 
subsidizable costs pursuant to Title 20-A, section 
15681-A 
$1,882,494,984
Total Debt Service Allocation 
Total debt service allocation pursuant to the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15683-A 
$88,428,148
Enhancing Student Performance and Opportunity 
$4,397,105
Total Adjustments and Miscellaneous Costs 
Total adjustments and miscellaneous costs pursuant to 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, sections 15689 
and 15689-A 
$67,138,019
Total Normal Cost of Teacher Retirement 
$38,357,583
Total Cost of Funding Public Education from 
Kindergarten to Grade 12 
Total cost of funding public education from kindergarten 
to grade 12 for fiscal year 2016-17 pursuant to the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 606-B 
$2,080,815,839
Sec. C-13.  Local and state contributions to total cost of funding public 
education from kindergarten to grade 12.  The local contribution and the state 
contribution appropriation provided for general purpose aid for local schools for the fiscal 
year beginning July 1, 2016 and ending June 30, 2017 is calculated as follows: 
Sec. C-14.  Authorization of payments.  If the State's continued obligation for 
any individual component contained in those sections of this Part that set the total cost of 
funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 and the local and state 
contributions for that purpose exceeds the level of funding provided for that component, 
Total cost of the state contribution to teacher retirement, 
teacher retirement health insurance and teacher 
retirement life insurance for fiscal year 2016-17 pursuant 
to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapters 421 and 
excluding the normal cost of teacher retirement 
$156,985,489
Adjustment pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
20-A, section 15683, subsection 2 
$42,200,635
Total cost of funding public education from kindergarten 
to grade 12 
$2,280,001,963
2016-17
LOCAL
2016-17
STATE
Local and State Contributions to the 
Total Cost of Funding Public Education 
from Kindergarten to Grade 12 
Local and state contributions to the total 
cost of funding public education from 
kindergarten to grade 12 pursuant to the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, 
section 15683, subject to statewide 
distributions required by law 
$1,079,854,324
$1,000,961,515
State contribution to the total cost of 
teacher retirement, teacher retirement 
health insurance and teacher retirement 
life insurance for fiscal year 2016-17 
pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 5, chapters 421 and 423 
$156,985,489
State contribution to the total cost of 
funding public education from 
kindergarten to grade 12 
$1,157,947,004
any unexpended balances occurring in other programs may be applied to avoid proration 
of payments for any individual component.  Any unexpended balances from this Part may 
not lapse but must be carried forward for the same purpose. 
Sec. C-15.  Limit of State's obligation.  Those sections of this Part that set the 
total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 and the local and 
state contributions for that purpose may not be construed to require the State to provide 
payments that exceed the appropriation of funds for general purpose aid for local schools 
for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016 and ending June 30, 2017. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
Part A of the bill directs the Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's 
designee to convene, no later than May 1, 2016, a commission to reform public education 
funding and improve student performance in the State. The Commissioner of Education is 
directed to submit by January 10, 2017 and January 10, 2018 to the Governor and the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters a 
report of the commission that includes findings and recommendations for action to reform 
public education funding and improve student performance in Maine. Notwithstanding 
Joint Rule 353, the commissioner is authorized to submit to the Legislature a bill to 
implement the commission's recommendations. 
Part B requires the State Controller to transfer $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2016-17 
from the General Fund unappropriated surplus to the General Purpose Aid for Local 
Schools program, General Fund account within the Department of Education. 
Part C establishes the total cost of education from kindergarten to grade 12 for fiscal 
year 2016-17, the state contribution and the annual target state share percentage. In 
addition, Part C accomplishes the following. 
1.  Under current law, the Commissioner of Education may report and pay to the 
Treasurer of State to be credited to the National Board Certification Salary Supplement 
Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Education no more 
than $335,000 in fiscal year 2014-15 from fees for the initial issuance of and renewal of 
teacher, education specialist and administrator certificates. This Part extends that 
limitation to each fiscal year beyond fiscal year 2014-15. 
2.  This Part changes from fiscal year 2016-17 to fiscal year 2017-18 when the State 
must begin increasing the state share percentage of the funding for the cost of essential 
programs and services by at least one percentage point per year over the percentage of the 
previous year until the state share percentage of the total cost of funding public education 
from kindergarten to grade 12 reaches 55%.  
3.  It adds, beginning in fiscal year 2016-17, charter schools to the list of essential 
programs and services components to be reviewed. 
4.  It changes the deadline for the commissioner to make annual recommendations 
regarding the funding levels for essential programs and services from prior to December 
15th of each year to prior to January 20th of each fiscal year. 
5.  It strikes the provision of law that authorizes the commissioner, for school 
administrative units that annually demonstrate savings by purchasing supplies using an 
electronic bidding forum, to suspend all or a portion of the adjustment to the unit's state 
contribution. 
Approved: 03/09/16
LD 1641
LR 2742(01)
FY 2015-16
FY 2016-17
Projections 
FY 2017-18
Projections 
FY 2018-19
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund
$0
$15,000,000
$0
$0
Transfers
General Fund
$0
($15,000,000)
$0
$0
Legislative Cost/Study
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
An Act To Establish a Commission To Reform Public Education Funding and Improve Student 
Performance in Maine and Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures 
of the Department of Education and To Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the 
Proper Operations of Government for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2017
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
Sponsor: Rep. Fredette of Newport
Committee: Not Referred
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
Legislative Cost/Study
Additional costs to the Department of Education to provide staff support to the commission can be absorbed within 
existing budgeted resources.  Additional costs to the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College 
System and the State Board of Education to serve on the commission can be absorbed within existing budgeted 
resources.
Providing for a one-time transfer of $15,000,000 from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund to the General 
Purpose Aid for Local Schools program, General Fund account within the Department of Education no later than June 
30, 2017 will decrease the funds available in the General Fund for other purposes. The State Budget Officer, upon 
approval of the Governor, is authorized to allot these funds. 
The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $1,000 in fiscal year 2015-16 and $3,000 in fiscal 
year 2016-17. The Legislature's budget includes $10,000 in fiscal year 2015-16 and $10,000 in fiscal year 2016-17 for 
legislative studies.  Whether the amounts are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies 
authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. 
LR2742(01) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1