An Act To Reduce the Burden on Local Communities of Transportation Costs for Special Needs Students
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1281
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: HAMPER, GINZLER, LANGLEY, WADSWORTH
Amends: 20-A MRSA §15681-A, 20-A MRSA §15686-A

Legislative Document 
No. 1281 
S.P. 456 
In Senate, April 9, 2015 
An Act To Reduce the Burden on Local Communities of 
Transportation Costs for Special Needs Students 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator HAMPER of Oxford. 
Cosponsored by Representative GINZLER of Bridgton and 
Senator: LANGLEY of Hancock, Representative: WADSWORTH of Hiram. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §15681-A, sub-§2-B is enacted to read: 
2-B.  Costs for special education transportation services.  Beginning in fiscal year 
2016-17, the commissioner shall increase the total operating allocation for each school 
administrative unit that incurs special education costs that exceed $20,000 annually for 
transportation services that are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from 
the child's special education program under chapter 301.  Notwithstanding any other 
section of this Title, the department shall pay 100% of the costs authorized by this 
subsection for special education transportation services that exceed $20,000 annually for 
the child's education for each eligible child with a disability within the jurisdiction of the 
school administrative unit. 
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §15686-A, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 519, Pt. AAAA, §12, is 
amended to read: 
§15686-A.  Review of essential programs and services components 
1.  Components to be reviewed beginning in fiscal year 2006-07.  Beginning in 
fiscal year 2006-07, 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 student-to-staff ratios, salary and benefits matrices, 
transportation, small schools adjustments, labor markets and gifted and talented 
components under this chapter and shall submit a report that includes the statewide 
education policy research institute's findings and recommendations as well as any 
recommended changes for legislative action to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters any recommended changes for 
legislative action. 
2.  Components to be reviewed beginning in fiscal year 2007-08.  Beginning in 
fiscal year 2007-08, 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 career and technical education, special education, 
specialized student populations, system administration and operations and maintenance 
components under this chapter and shall submit a report that includes the statewide 
education policy research institute's findings and recommendations as well as any 
recommended changes for legislative action to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters any recommended changes for 
legislative action. 
3.  Components to be reviewed beginning in fiscal year 2008-09.  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 components under this chapter and shall submit a report that includes the 
statewide education policy research institute's findings and recommendations as well as 
any recommended changes for legislative action to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters any recommended changes for 
legislative action. 
4.  Annual report.  Within 15 business days of the convening of a regular legislative 
session, the commissioner shall submit the report on the essential programs and services 
components required by this section for the current fiscal year to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters. 
A.  Beginning with the annual report due before January 2016 for the components 
reviewed during fiscal year 2015-16, the report submitted by the commissioner must 
also include a work plan that specifies the components to be reviewed during the next 
fiscal year.  Except as provided in paragraph B, the commissioner shall conduct the 
component review in accordance with subsections 1 to 3. 
B.  If the work plan submitted by the commissioner pursuant to paragraph A proposes 
any changes to the component review schedule established for the next fiscal year 
pursuant to subsections 1 to 3, the commissioner shall provide the reason for each 
requested change in the report submitted to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters.  Within 15 business days after 
the date that the report was submitted by the commissioner, the joint standing 
committee shall consider the proposed changes to the component review schedule 
specified in the work plan and the joint standing committee may: 
(1)  Approve in writing the proposed changes to the component review schedule 
specified in the work plan proposed by the commissioner;  
(2)  Approve in writing modifications to the proposed changes to the component 
review schedule specified in the work plan proposed by the commissioner; or 
(3)  Disapprove in writing the proposed changes to the component review 
schedule specified in the work plan proposed by the commissioner and require 
that the commissioner conduct the component review in accordance with the 
schedule as set forth in this section. 
If the joint standing committee approves modifications to the component review 
schedule pursuant to subparagraph (2), the commissioner shall submit an updated 
work plan that contains the approved modifications to the joint standing committee 
within 15 business days after the date the joint standing committee approved the 
modifications. 
SUMMARY 
This bill proposes to limit the costs for special education transportation services for 
each school administrative unit that incurs special education costs that exceed $20,000 for 
transportation services required to assist a child with a disability.  The bill provides that 
the Commissioner of Education must pay 100% of the costs authorized for special 
education transportation services that exceed $20,000 annually for each eligible child 
with a disability within the jurisdiction of the school administrative unit. 
The bill also amends the statutes related to the annual review of the essential 
programs and services components required by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, 
section 15686-A by requiring the Commissioner of Education to submit an annual report 
on the components scheduled for review every 3 years, including a work plan that 
specifies the components to be reviewed during the next fiscal year, to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters.  If the work plan 
is inconsistent with the components scheduled for review, the commissioner shall provide 
the reason for each requested change in the report submitted to the joint standing 
committee, and the joint standing committee is authorized to approve in writing the 
proposed changes to the component review schedule specified in the work plan.