An Act To Strengthen Maritime Education by Amending the Laws Governing the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, Transportation and Engineering
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 2020
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: HERBIG, CUDDY, JACKSON, LUCHINI, VITELLI, FARNSWORTH, FECTEAU, HUBBELL, INGWERSEN, MATLACK
Amends: 20-A MRSA §8232, 20-A MRSA §8235, 20-A MRSA §8238

Legislative Document
No. 2020
S.P. 710
In Senate, January 14, 2020
An Act To Strengthen Maritime Education by Amending the Laws 
Governing the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, 
Transportation and Engineering
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HERBIG of Waldo.
Cosponsored by Representative CUDDY of Winterport and
Senators: President JACKSON of Aroostook, LUCHINI of Hancock, VITELLI of Sagadahoc, 
Representatives: FARNSWORTH of Portland, FECTEAU of Biddeford, HUBBELL of Bar 
Harbor, INGWERSEN of Arundel, MATLACK of St. George.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §8232, first ¶, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 363, §4, is 
amended to read:
The school is established as a public, residential school located in the Town of 
Searsport and the following provisions apply.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §8232, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. C, §13, 
is further amended to read:
2.  Tuition; room and board; funding.  Students A student from this State may 
attend the school free of tuition charges.  Additional funding for students from this State 
may be provided within amounts appropriated for that purpose as follows.
A.  State funding for the school must be provided using the method established for 
public charter schools that are authorized by the commission in accordance with the 
funding provisions established in section 2413-A and section 15683-B.  To be 
eligible for state funding under this paragraph, a student must have resided in Maine 
with a parent, other relative or guardian for at least 6 months immediately preceding 
application to the school.
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §8235, sub-§16, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 363, §4, is 
amended to read:
16.  Report.  To report annually to the Governor, the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters and the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs on the 
results of the assessment in subsection 15 and the general status of the school and to 
provide a financial audit of the school conducted by an independent auditor;.  The report 
under this subsection must include, at a minimum, assessments for:
A.  Student academic proficiency;
B.  Student academic growth;
C.  Achievement gaps in both proficiency and growth between major student 
subgroups;
D.  Attendance;
E.  Recurrent enrollment from year to year;
F.  Postsecondary readiness;
G.  Financial performance and sustainability;
H.  Board of trustees performance and stewardship; and
I.  Parent and community engagement;
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §8238, as amended by PL 2019, c. 531, §1, is further 
amended to read:
§8238.  Implementation; limited authorization
The school may implement the plan established for the statewide education programs 
pursuant to section 8236, subsection 2 during the 2017-2018 school year.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all powers, duties and authority of the 
school under this chapter and under any other law terminate 90 days after the 
adjournment of the Second Regular Session of the 129th 131st Legislature.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the provision of law terminating the Maine School for Marine 
Science, Technology, Transportation and Engineering 90 days after adjournment of the 
days after adjournment of the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.  It also 
removes references to residential students and amends reporting requirements for the 
school by incorporating reporting requirements similar to those of charter schools.