An Act To Support Maine Students Who Are Dependents of Current or Former Members of the Military (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1705
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: BALDACCI, O'CONNELL, ROEDER
Amends: 20-A MRSA §2404, 20-A MRSA §5205, 20-A MRSA §10010-A

Legislative Document
No. 1705
S.P. 557
In Senate, May 13, 2021
An Act To Support Maine Students Who Are Dependents of 
Current or Former Members of the Military
(AFTER DEADLINE)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on May 11, 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 BALDACCI of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Representatives: O'CONNELL of Brewer, ROEDER of Bangor.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §2404, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:
1-A.  Virtual public charter school eligibility.  In addition to the provision in 
subsection 1, a dependent of a member of the United States Armed Forces who has received 
official military orders to relocate to this State is eligible to apply to a virtual public charter 
school.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §5205, sub-§12 is enacted to read:
12.  Military-connected student.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in 
chapter 901, a military-connected student whose parent is transferred or is pending transfer 
to the State while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order is considered 
a resident of the school administrative unit in which the address identified by the parent 
pursuant to paragraph C is located.  For the purposes of this subsection, "military-connected 
student" has the same meaning as in section 6991.
A.  A school administrative unit shall accept applications by electronic means for 
enrollment under this subsection, including enrollment in a specific school or program 
within the school administrative unit, and course registration.
B.  The parent of a military-connected student shall provide proof of residence in the 
school administrative unit within 10 days after the arrival date provided on the parent's 
official military order.
C.  A parent may identify any of the following as an address in the State for the 
purposes of this subsection:
(1)  A temporary lodging facility on a military installation as defined in section 
20102;
(2)  A purchased or leased house or apartment; or
(3)  Federal Government or public-private venture military housing.
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA c. 231 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 231
PURPLE STAR SCHOOLS
§6991.  Definitions
In this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the 
following meanings.
1.  Military-connected student.  "Military-connected student" means a student who is 
a dependent of:
A.  A current or former member of:
(1)  The United States military serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine 
Corps, Space Force or Coast Guard on active duty;
(2)  The Maine National Guard; or
(3)  A reserve force of the United States military; or
B.  A member of a military or reserve force described in paragraph A who was killed 
in the line of duty.
§6992. Purple Star School
The department shall designate a school administrative unit as a Purple Star School if 
the school administrative unit applies and qualifies for the designation under this chapter.
§6993. Program requirements
To qualify as a Purple Star School, a school administrative unit must:
1.  Military liaison.  Designate a staff member as a military liaison, whose duties 
include:
A.  Identifying military-connected students enrolled at the school administrative unit;
B.  Serving as the point of contact between the school administrative unit and military-
connected students and their families;
C.  Determining appropriate school administrative unit services available to military-
connected students; and
D.  Assisting in coordinating school administrative unit programs relevant to military-
connected students;
2.  Website.  Maintain on the school administrative unit's publicly accessible website 
an easily accessible web page that includes resources for military-connected students and 
their families, including information regarding:
A.  Relocation to, enrollment in and transferring records to the school administrative 
unit;
B.  Academic planning, course sequences and advanced classes available at the school 
administrative unit; and
C.  Counseling and other support services available for military-connected students 
enrolled in the school administrative unit;
3.  Transition program.  Maintain a transition program led by students, when 
appropriate, that assists military-connected students in transitioning into the school 
administrative unit;
4.  Professional development.  Offer professional development for staff members on 
issues related to military-connected students; and
5.  Initiatives.  Initiate one of the following:
A.  A resolution showing support for military-connected students and their families;
B.  Recognition of the month of the military child or military family month with 
relevant events hosted by the school administrative unit; or
C.  A partnership with a local military installation, as defined in section 20102, that 
provides opportunities for active duty military members to volunteer at the school 
administrative unit, speak at an assembly or host a field trip.
§6994. Partnerships between school administrative units
A school administrative unit may partner with another school administrative unit to 
fulfill any of the requirements of this chapter.
§6995. Rules
The department shall adopt rules as necessary to administer this section.  Rules adopted 
pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §10010-A is enacted to read:
§10010-A.  Spouse or child of active duty member of United States Armed Forces
A spouse or child of an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces who is 
assigned to duty out of the State immediately following assignment to duty in the State is 
eligible for in-state tuition rates and fees at the University of Maine System, the Maine 
Community College System or the Maine Maritime Academy as long as the spouse or child 
resides continuously in the State while enrolled in the postsecondary institution.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Purple Star Schools Program administered by the Department 
of Education to recognize school administrative units that provide strong services and 
support for military-connected students and their families.  
The bill also provides that:
1.  A dependent of a member of the United States Armed Forces who has received 
official military orders to relocate to this State is eligible to apply to a virtual public charter 
school;
2.  A military-connected student whose parent is transferred or is pending transfer to 
the State while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order is considered a 
resident of the school administrative unit in which the address identified by the parent is 
located.  The term "military-connected student" is defined in the bill; and
3.  A spouse or child of an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces who 
is assigned to duty out of the State immediately following assignment to duty in the State 
is eligible for in-state tuition rates and fees at the University of Maine System, the Maine 
Community College System or the Maine Maritime Academy as long as the spouse or child 
resides continuously in the State while enrolled in the postsecondary institution.