An Act To Modernize Funding of Publicly Funded Tuition Students Attending Career and Technical Education Programs
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1789
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: MAXMIN, O'NEIL, BAILEY, BALDACCI, CRAFTS, SAMPSON
Amends: 20-A MRSA §3253-A, 20-A MRSA §5809, 20-A MRSA §8404, 20-A MRSA §8457

Legislative Document
No. 1789
S.P. 627
In Senate, December 9, 2021
An Act To Modernize Funding of Publicly Funded Tuition Students 
Attending Career and Technical Education Programs
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 7, 2021.  Referred to the Committee 
on Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator MAXMIN of Lincoln.
Cosponsored by Representative O'NEIL of Saco and
Senators: BAILEY of York, BALDACCI of Penobscot, Representatives: CRAFTS of 
Newcastle, 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, schools receiving tuition students who are enrolled in career and technical 
education programs are already experiencing undue financial burdens; and
Whereas, in the absence of this legislation, schools receiving tuition students who are 
enrolled in career and technical education programs will be on the brink of financial 
hardship; 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Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §3253-A, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 
424, §2, is amended to read:
3.  Tuition.  Notwithstanding section 5805, subsection 2 and section 5809, the 
commissioner shall pay tuition for each tuition student in an amount equal to the official 
tuition rate approved pursuant to section 5805, subsection 1 for the receiving school for 
nonresident students enrolled in secondary schools or special education or career and 
technical education programs as long as the student maintains a satisfactory standard of 
deportment and scholarship.  The commissioner shall pay tuition for each tuition student 
in an amount equal to the official tuition rate approved pursuant to section 7302 for the 
receiving school for nonresident students enrolled in special education programs, as long 
as the student maintains a satisfactory standard of deportment and scholarship.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §5809, as amended by PL 2017, c. 420, §1, is repealed.
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §8404, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Schools approved for tuition purposes.  Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year 
and after receiving the state share of the essential programs and services allocation for the 
school pursuant to chapter 606-B, each school approved for tuition purposes shall 
contribute toward the costs of the center serving the school, on a pro rata share based on 
the number of students attending the center, in accordance with an agreement to share costs 
to be adopted by the center advisory committee and the schools served by the center.
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §8457, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6.  Schools approved for tuition purposes.  Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year 
and after receiving the state share of the essential programs and services allocation for the 
school pursuant to chapter 606-B, each school approved for tuition purposes shall 
contribute toward the costs of the region serving the school, on a pro rata share based on 
the number of students attending the region, in accordance with a cost-sharing agreement 
to be adopted by the cooperative board and the schools served by the region.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
Under current law, a school that receives publicly funded tuition students who are 
enrolled in regular school day career and technical education programs at career and 
technical education centers, satellites or regions may charge a tuition rate of only up to 2/3 
of the maximum tuition rate.  This bill removes this limitation on schools approved for 
tuition purposes. This bill then directs each school approved for tuition purposes to enter 
into an agreement for the purpose of determining that school's per-pupil contribution 
toward the costs of the career and technical education center or region serving that school.