An Act To Create the General Purpose Aid Stabilization Fund
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1963
Committee Amendment CA_A_H860 (House)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §15698

COMMITTEEAMENDivlENT "ff "to H.P. 1460, L.D. 1963, "An Act To Create the 
General Purpose Aid Stabilization Fund" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Create the Education Stabilization Fund' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §15698 is enacted to read: 
§15698. Education Stabilization Fund 
1. Fund established. The Education Stabilization Fund, referred to in this section as 
"the fund." is established as an Other Special Revenue Funds account within the department 
for the purposes specified in this section. 
2. Nonlapsing. Any unexpended balances in the fund may not lapse but must be 
carried forward. 
3. Fund purposes. Allocations from the fund must be used to prevent any reduction 
in the budgeted state share of essential programs and services pursuant to section 15671, 
subsection 7, paragraph B that would otherwise result from insufficient General Fund 
appropriations or any other shortage of funds .. 
4. Report by State Controller. The State Controller shall report at least annually on 
the fund on or before the 2nd Friday in November to the joint standing committees of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and education 
matters. The report must summarize the status of and activity in the fund. 
5. Transfer for payments. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the 
State Controller may transfer from the balance available in the fund an amount for essential 
programs and services payments to the department. Amounts transferred may be expended 
based on an allotment established by financial order upon recommendation by the State 
Budget Officer and approval by the Governor. The amounts transferred are considered 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,jj·,, to H.P. 1460, L.D. 1963 
adjustments to allocations. The Governor shall inform the Legislative Council and the joint 
standing committees · of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and 
financial affairs and education matters immediately upon such a transfer from the fund. 
Sec. 2. Transfer from General Fund unappropriated surplus; Education 
Stabilization Fund. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the State 
Controller shall transfer $30,000,000 from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund 
to the Education Stabilization Fund established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, 
section 15698 on or before June 30, 2022.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority rep01t of the committee, changes the name of 
the fund to the Education Stabilization Fund and provides that the purpose of the fund is to 
prevent any reduction in the budgeted state share of essential programs and services 
pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15671, subsection 7, paragraph 
B that would otherwise result from insufficient General Fund appropriations or any other 
shortage of funds. The amendment also adds that the State Controller may transfer from 
the balance available in the fund an amount for essential programs and services payments 
to the Department of Education, that amounts transferred may be expended based on an 
allotment established by financial order upon recommendation by the State Budget Officer 
and approval by the Governor and that the amounts transferred are considered adjustments 
to allocations. The Governor shall inform the Legislative Council and the joint standing 
committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs 
and education matters immediately upon such a transfer from the fund. In addition, the 
amendment requires the State Controller to transfer $30,000,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 
from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund to the Education Stabilization Fund. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
( 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Transfers 
General Fund 
Approved: 03/18/22 ;!;Pac:.. 
LD 1963 
LR2573(02) 
An Act To Create the General Purpose Aid Stabilization Fund 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment /r,(f/- !ffc6) 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY2021-22 
$30,000,000 
FY 2022-23 
Projections 
FY 2023-24 
Projections 
FY2024-25 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
($30,000,000) 
$30,000,000 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill requires the State Controller to transfer $30,000,000 from the General Fund unappropriated surplus to a 
newly established Education Stabilization Fund within the Department of Education on or before June 30, 2022 to be 
used to offset a reduction in the budgeted state share of Essential Programs and Services pursuant to Title 20-A, 
section 15671, subsection 7-B that would otherwise result if sufficient General Fund revenues or other funds are not 
available to fully fund the required state contribution in any fiscal year. 
LR2573(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1