An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Local Share of Education Costs
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0441
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: LIBBY, POULIOT, MILLETT, BROOKS, GOLDEN, LAJOIE, ROTUNDO, STEARNS
Amends: 20-A MRSA §15690

Legislative Document 
No. 441 
S.P. 170 
In Senate, February 24, 2015 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Local Share of Education 
Costs 
(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 LIBBY of Androscoggin. 
Cosponsored by Representative POULIOT of Augusta and 
Senator: MILLETT of Cumberland, Representatives: BROOKS of Lewiston, GOLDEN of 
Lewiston, LAJOIE of Lewiston, ROTUNDO of Lewiston, STEARNS of Guilford. 
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 proportional share reduction for school administrative units not 
meeting their required local share of education funding is scheduled to be phased out in 
fiscal year 2015-16; and 
Whereas, this legislation extends the phase-out; and 
Whereas, fiscal year 2015-16 begins July 1, 2015, which is likely before the 
expiration of the 90-day period; 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Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §15690, sub-§1, ¶D, as repealed and replaced by PL 2013, 
c. 171, §1, is amended to read: 
D.  In any fiscal year in which the sum of the State's contribution toward the cost of 
the components of essential programs and services, exclusive of federal funds that are 
provided and accounted for in the cost of the components of essential programs and 
services, falls below the State's target of 55% of the cost of the components of 
essential programs and services, the commissioner shall calculate the percentage of 
the State's 55% share that is funded by state appropriations and, notwithstanding any 
other provision of this paragraph, a school administrative unit may not have the 
amount of its state subsidy limited or reduced under paragraph C if the school 
administrative unit: 
(1)  In fiscal year 2013-14, raises at least the same percentage of its required local 
contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to 
grade 12, including state-funded debt service, as the State's contribution toward 
its 55% share of the cost of the components of essential programs and services; 
(2)  In fiscal year 2014-15, raises the same percentage of its required local 
contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to 
grade 12, including state-funded debt service, as the State's contribution toward 
its 55% share of the cost of the components of essential programs and services 
plus 33% of the difference between that percentage and 100% of its required 
local contribution; and 
(3)  In fiscal year 2015-16, raises the same percentage of its required local 
contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to 
grade 12, including state-funded debt service, as the State's contribution toward 
its 55% share of the cost of the components of essential programs and services 
plus 66% 49.5% of the difference between that percentage and 100% of its 
required local contribution.; 
(4) In fiscal year 2016-17, raises the same percentage of its required local 
contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to 
grade 12, including state-funded debt service, as the State's contribution toward 
its 55% share of the cost of the components of essential programs and services 
plus 66% of the difference between that percentage and 100% of its required 
local contribution; and 
(5) In fiscal year 2017-18, raises the same percentage of its required local 
contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to 
grade 12, including state-funded debt service, as the State's contribution toward 
its 55% share of the cost of the components of essential programs and services 
plus 82.5% of the difference between that percentage and 100% of its required 
local contribution. 
This paragraph is repealed June 30, 2016 2018. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill extends the remaining phase-out of the proportional share reduction for 
school administrative units not meeting their required local share of education funding 
from one more year, ending in fiscal year 2015-16, to 3 more years, ending in fiscal year 
2017-18.