An Act To Create a Digital Portal for Education II
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1230
Committee Amendment CA_A_S146 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" f\ " to S,P, 435, L,D, 1230, Bill, "An Act To 
Create a Digital Portal for Education" 
II 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Create a Digital Content Library for Education' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
IS 
'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 content library for schools, colleges and 
universities to access digital educational content aligned to Maine's educational priorities, 
including assignments, learning resources and content; 
Whereas, educational opportunities would be improved through easier access to 
digital content aligned with Maine's educational priorities; 
Whereas, this legislation requires the establishment of an advisory group to design 
the digital content library and recommend to the Commissioner of Education an 
implementation plan and time line in sufficient time for the commissioner to submit a 
report by January 15,2016; 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 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
II 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 435, L.D. 1230 
DIGITAL CONTENT LIBRARY FOR EDUCATION 
§19301. Digital content library 
1. Digital content library established. The commissioner shall establish a digital 
content library to house a collection of high-quality digital educational content and 
learning resources aligned with the State's educational initiatives, delivered electronically 
by school administrative units, private schools, public and private postsecondary 
institutions and nonprofit or for-profit content providers for sharing with other school 
administrative units, private schools, public and private postsecondary institutions and 
individuals. 
2. Content. Content included in the digital content library established pursuant to 
subsection 1 must further the State's educational initiatives, including learning through 
technology, proficiency-based diploma standards, college and career readiness and 
student achievement in the system of standards and assessment established under chapter 
222. 
3. Administration. The commissioner shall establish administrative specifications 
for the digital content library established pursuant to subsection I, including: 
A. 
Specifications and criteria in at least the following areas regarding digital 
educational content and learning resources to be included in the digital content 
library: 
(1) Alignment with the system of learning results established under section 6209; 
(2) Development of greater student depth of knowledge or complex reasoning; 
(3) Integration of technology; 
(4) Relevance to community involvement and employment in the State; 
(5) Level of interest to students; and 
(6) Quality of instruction; 
B. A method for involving educators, educational organizations and institutions, 
school administrative units, private schools, public and private postsecondary 
institutions and nonprofit or for-profit content providers to create content for possible 
inclusion in the digital content library; 
C. 
A method for reviewing digital educational content and learning resources to 
determine whether digital educational content and learning resources should be 
included in the digital content library; 
D. A method for curating digital educational content and learning resources included 
in the digital content library to provide for continuous review of currency and 
consistency with the specifications and criteria adopted under this section; and 
E. Technical specifications in at least the following areas: 
(1) 
Cataloguing available content, with information regarding each item of 
digital educational content or learning resource that includes: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 435, L.D. 1230 
Ca) Identification of appropriate grade level; 
(b) Subject area; 
(c) 
Brief descriptions, including descriptions of the type of digital 
educational content or learning resource; 
Cd) Links to the digital educational content or learning resource; and 
(e) 
Number of instructional hours required to complete the digital 
educational content or learning resource; 
(2) A rating and recommendation system for students and educators to provide 
feedback on digital educational content and learning resources included in the 
digital content library; 
(3) Tracking use of specific digital educational content or learning resources; and 
(4) Accessibility of the digital content library from any device with Internet 
connecti vi ty. 
4. Review. The commissioner may convene an advisory group consisting of, at a 
minimum, a representative from the department, a public school educator from the State 
and a representative from a statewide educational association or organization to review 
and suggest modifications and updates to the digital content library established pursuant 
to subsection 1. The commissioner shall review and may approve or modify the 
recommendations of the advisory group regarding the requirements set forth in this 
section. 
S. Training. The commissioner may provide professional development and training 
on the use of the digital content library. 
6. Power to contract. The commissioner may enter into a contract with an entity to 
implement any recommendations of the advisory group under subsection 4. 
7. Report. The commissioner shall report annually by January 15th to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural 
affairs regarding the digital content library established pursuant to subsection I, and 
specifically the items in this section. 
Sec. 2. 
Digital content library advisory group. 
The Commissioner of 
Education shall convene an advisory group to design the digital content library 
established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 805. The advisory 
group must include a representative from the Department of Education, a public school 
educator in the State and a representative from a statewide educational association or 
organization. The advisory group shall recommend to the commissioner methods for 
fulfilling the requirements of Title 20-A, section 19301. In addition, the advisory group 
shall: 
1. Recommend a business model that allows for competitive exchange of digital 
educational content and learning resources that maintains low costs for schools and 
rewards authors when their digital educational content and learning resources are 
accessed through the digital content library; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 435, L.D. 1230 
2. Establish an implementation plan and timeline for the digital content library. 
The recommendations of the advisory group must be included, in written form, in the 
report by the commissioner to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural 
Affairs required by January 15,2016 under Title 20-A, section 19301, subsection 7. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, which establishes a digital portal for education, and 
instead creates a digital content library, which makes digital educational content and 
learning resources available to all students through a method determined by the 
Commissioner of Education and based upon the recommendations of a digital content 
library advisory group. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: OS/26/15 
~c 
LD 1230 
LR 896(02) 
An Act To Create a Digital Portal for Education 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ''Pt' (s- \ YW 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the Department of Education associated with working with the advisory group to develop the 
implementation plan and timeline for the establishment of the digital content library and with providing professional 
development and training on the use of the digital content library can be absorbed within the existing budgeted 
resources of the department. However, depending on the recommendations of the advisory group, the department may 
require General Fund appropriations to establish the library. If additional resources are needed, the Department of 
Education will submit a request in the next supplemental budget. 
LR0896(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1