An Act To Create a Digital Portal for Education
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1230
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: LANGLEY, HUBBELL, STEARNS, TIPPING-SPITZ

Legislative Document 
No. 1230 
S.P. 435 
In Senate, April 7, 2015 
An Act To Create a Digital Portal for Education 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator LANGLEY of Hancock. 
Cosponsored by Representative HUBBELL of Bar Harbor and 
Representatives: STEARNS of Guilford, TIPPING-SPITZ of Orono. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, there is not currently a digital portal for schools, colleges, universities and 
individuals to access available digital texts and online courses; and 
Whereas, educational opportunities for students and individuals would be improved 
through easier access to digital texts and online courses; and 
Whereas, those educational opportunities should be in place before the start of the 
2015-2016 school 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 c. 805 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 805 
DIGITAL PORTAL FOR EDUCATION 
§19301.  Digital portal for education established 
The commissioner shall establish a digital portal for education of digital texts, online 
courses of study, interactive distance learning courses and other distance learning 
courses, delivered via a computer-based method offered by school administrative units, 
private schools, public and private postsecondary institutions and other nonprofit or for-
profit course providers for sharing with other school administrative units, private schools, 
public and private postsecondary institutions and individuals. 
1.  Common statewide platform.  The digital portal for education must be equipped 
to provide digital texts and online courses in accordance with technical specifications 
approved by the commissioner and on a common statewide platform administered by the 
commissioner. 
2.  Access.  The digital portal for education must be accessible from any computer 
with Internet connectivity. 
3.  Training.  The commissioner may provide professional development and training 
on the use of the digital portal for education. 
4.  Power to contract.  The commissioner may enter into a contract with an entity to 
perform any of the commissioner's duties under this chapter. 
5.  Rules.  The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this chapter.  Rules 
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A. 
§19302.  Digital texts and online courses 
1.  Application.  To offer a digital text or online course through the digital portal for 
education, a provider shall apply to the commissioner in a form and manner prescribed by 
the commissioner.  The application for each digital text or online course must: 
A.  Describe the digital text or online course in as much detail as required by the 
commissioner; 
B.  Indicate whether an instructor is provided; 
C.  Indicate the qualifications and credentials of the instructor or the developer of the 
digital text or online course; 
D.  Indicate the number of hours of instruction the digital text or online course 
requires; 
E.  Indicate whether the digital text or online course has been peer reviewed; and 
F.  Include any additional information that the commissioner may require. 
2.  Approval.  The commissioner shall review applications received under subsection 
and may approve or reject applications for digital texts or online courses to be included 
in the digital portal for education. 
3.  Catalog of digital texts and online courses.  The commissioner shall catalog 
each digital text or online course approved for the digital portal for education in a print or 
electronic medium made available publicly.  The catalog must include: 
A.  The information provided under subsection 1 and any other information necessary 
for a school administrative unit, private school, public or private postsecondary 
institution or individual to decide whether to enroll in or subscribe to the digital text 
or online course; and 
B.  Instructions for enrolling in or subscribing to the digital text or online course, 
including deadlines for enrollment or subscription. 
§19303.  Fees 
1.  Expenses borne by provider.  Any expense related to the installation of a digital 
text or online course onto the digital portal for education must be paid by the digital text 
or online course provider. 
2.  Fee set by provider.  The provider of a digital text or online course shall set the 
fee charged for that digital text or online course offered through the digital portal for 
education. 
3.  Payment of fees.  The commissioner shall prescribe the method of payment for a 
digital text or online course from the subscribing school or individual to the provider of 
the digital text or online course. 
4.  Operating costs.  The commissioner may retain a percentage of the fee charged 
for digital texts or online courses to pay all or a portion of the costs of maintaining and 
operating the digital portal for education, including payments to an entity with which the 
commissioner has entered into a contract pursuant to section 19301, subsection 4. 
5.  No cost to school administrative units.  Nothing in this chapter may be 
construed to require a school administrative unit in which a student is enrolled to pay the 
fee charged for a digital text or online course taken by the student. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill creates a digital portal for education, which makes digital texts and online 
courses available to all students through a common statewide platform administered by 
the Commissioner of Education.  This bill allows providers of digital texts and online 
courses to install them onto the portal at their own expense and set the fee charged for 
enrollment in or subscription to the digital text or online course.  The commissioner is 
required to maintain a catalog of available digital texts and online courses.