An Act To Provide Support to Students, Staff and Faculty at Postsecondary Educational Institutions for Temporary Closures Due to Infectious Diseases (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 2165
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: FECTEAU, POULIOT, DRINKWATER, FAULKINGHAM, RUDNICKI, SAMPSON
Amends: 20-A MRSA §10015

Legislative Document
No. 2165
H.P. 1549
House of Representatives, March 17, 2020
An Act To Provide Support to Students, Staff and Faculty at 
Postsecondary Educational Institutions for Temporary Closures 
Due to Infectious Diseases
(AFTER DEADLINE)
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative FECTEAU of Augusta.
Cosponsored by Senator POULIOT of Kennebec and
Representatives: DRINKWATER of Milford, FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor, 
RUDNICKI of Fairfield, SAMPSON of Alfred.
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, certain postsecondary educational institutions in the State have 
temporarily suspended classes and are requiring students to remain off campus due to 
safety concerns caused by COVID-19, an infectious disease; and
Whereas, students and staff and faculty of these institutions may be financially 
affected by the temporary suspensions; and
Whereas, this legislation must take effect before the end of the 90-day period to 
address, as soon as possible, the financial effects on students and staff and faculty; 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 §10015 is enacted to read:
§10015.  Temporary suspension of classes due to infectious disease
1.  Reimbursement.  A postsecondary educational institution in the State that 
temporarily suspends classes and requires students to remain off campus due to safety 
concerns caused by an infectious disease, including the novel coronavirus disease referred 
to as COVID-19 by the World Health Organization and referred to in this section as 
"COVID-19," shall reimburse a student on a pro rata basis any unused fees previously 
paid to the institution by the student, including, but not limited to, the cost of room and 
board and fees for parking, student activities, labs and technology and, if classes are not 
conducted remotely or through an alternate method as determined appropriate by the 
institution, tuition.
2.  Plan for certain students' housing and dining.  A postsecondary educational 
institution in the State that temporarily suspends classes and requires students to remain 
off campus due to safety concerns caused by an infectious disease, including COVID-19, 
shall develop a plan to allow certain students, based on a student's individual 
circumstances, to remain on campus and to provide housing and dining options to those 
students.
3.  Plan for staff and faculty.  A postsecondary educational institution in the State 
that temporarily suspends classes and requires staff and faculty to remain off campus due 
to safety concerns caused by an infectious disease, including COVID-19, shall develop a 
plan, in consultation with the department and the Department of Labor, to compensate 
staff and faculty for lost compensation due to the temporary suspension.
Sec. 2.  Retroactivity.  This Act applies retroactively to February 1, 2020.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill requires a postsecondary educational institution in the State that temporarily 
suspends classes and requires students, staff and faculty to remain off campus due to an 
infectious disease, including COVID-19, to:
1.  Reimburse students on a pro rata basis any unused fees previously paid to the 
institution by the student, and, if classes are not conducted remotely or through an 
alternate method as determined appropriate by the institution, tuition;
2.  Develop a plan to allow certain students, based on a student's individual 
circumstances, to remain on campus and to provide housing and dining options to those 
students; and
3.  Develop a plan, in consultation with the Department of Labor and the Department 
of Education, to compensate staff and faculty for lost compensation due to the temporary 
suspension.
This bill applies retroactively to February 1, 2020.