An Act To Support Conservation and the Health and Wellness of Maine Youth through Physically Active Residential Environmental Education Programs
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1282
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: MASON, TIMBERLAKE, ALFOND, BREEN, DILL, GRATWICK, HAMPER, JOHNSON, BLACK, WINSOR

Legislative Document 
No. 1282 
S.P. 457 
In Senate, April 9, 2015 
An Act To Support Conservation and the Health and Wellness of 
Maine Youth through Physically Active Residential Environmental 
Education Programs 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator MASON of Androscoggin. 
Cosponsored by Representative TIMBERLAKE of Turner and 
Senators: ALFOND of Cumberland, BREEN of Cumberland, DILL of Penobscot, 
GRATWICK of Penobscot, HAMPER of Oxford, JOHNSON of Lincoln, Representatives: 
BLACK of Wilton, WINSOR of Norway. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA c. 333 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 333 
ENVIRONMENTAL LIVING AND LEARNING FOR MAINE STUDENTS 
PROGRAM 
§9911.  Definitions 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
1.  Fund.  "Fund" means the Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students 
Scholarship Fund established in section 9913. 
2.  Program.  "Program" means the Environmental Living and Learning for Maine 
Students Program established in section 9912. 
3.  Residential environmental education program.  "Residential environmental 
education program" means a program offering environmental education in a residential 
setting that involves students in experiential, holistic, interdisciplinary outdoor learning, 
including hands-on engagement, observation and discovery, problem solving, teamwork, 
citizenship, reflection, self-awareness, responsibility and a strong academic component 
by encouraging intellectual curiosity, supporting overall academic achievement, linking 
science to other subjects and emphasizing connections between individual and 
community responsibility, health, environmental issues and the economy. 
4.  Students.  "Students" means students enrolled in grades 5 to 8 in public schools in 
the State.  
§9912.  Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Program 
1.  Program established.  The Environmental Living and Learning for Maine 
Students Program is established.  The department shall administer the program.  The 
department may collaborate with nonprofit organizations that operate residential 
environmental education programs. 
2.  Purposes of the program.  The program is established to: 
A.  Support the health and wellness of students in the State by developing in the 
students an appreciation for recreation in the outdoors; 
B.  Support residential environmental education program experiences for students; 
C.  Support collaboration between nonprofit organizations that operate residential 
environmental education programs and public schools; 
D.  Support hands-on science education for students and teachers; and 
E.  Provide students with the opportunity to fulfill science and physical education 
proficiency standards under section 6209, subsection 2. 
§9913.  Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Scholarship Fund 
The Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Scholarship Fund is 
established under the jurisdiction and control of the department.  The department may 
contract with a nonprofit organization that operates a residential environmental education 
program to manage the fund.   The fund is nonlapsing and may be invested in the same 
manner as permitted for investment of other state funds. 
1.  Use of fund.  Money in the fund must be used to provide scholarships to students 
to attend a residential environmental education program in an amount equal to 50% of the 
cost of attendance at the residential environmental education program.  Scholarships must 
be distributed to students in a manner that ensures students receiving scholarships attend 
residential environmental education programs across the State. 
2.  Sources of fund.  The following must be paid into the fund: 
A.  All money appropriated or allocated by the Legislature for inclusion in the fund; 
B.  All interest earned from investments of the fund; and 
C.  Any money designated for deposit into the fund from any source, public or 
private. 
§9914.  Rules 
The department shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.  Rules 
adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF  
Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Scholarship Fund N183 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds for scholarships to students to attend residential 
environmental education programs pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, 
section 9913. 
GENERAL FUND 
2015-16
2016-17
All Other 
$500,000
$500,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$500,000
$500,000
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes the Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students 
Program to support residential environmental education program experiences for public 
school students in grades 5 to 8 in the State.  It also establishes the Environmental Living 
and Learning for Maine Students Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships to students in 
the State to attend a residential environmental education program.  Scholarships must be 
in an amount equal to 50% of the cost of attendance at a residential environmental 
education program and must be distributed to students in a manner that ensures students 
receiving scholarships attend residential environmental education programs across the 
State.