An Act To Improve Maritime Education in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1389
Committee Amendment CA_A_H857 (House)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §8238

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT",//" to H.P. 1023, L.D. 1389, "An Act To Improve 
Maritime Education in Maine" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §8238, 2nd,, as amended by PL 2019, c. 655, §4, is further 
amended to read: 
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 Seeond First Regular Session of the .lJ.Oth 131st Legislature. 
• 
Sec. 2. Transition of the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, 
Transportation and Engineering to an educational program-based model; 
report. Notwithstanding its establishment as a public magnet school pursuant to the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 312-A, the Maine School for Marine Science, 
Technology, Transportation and Engineering, referred to in this section as "the Maine 
Ocean School," shall transition from a public magnet school to an educational program-
based model focused on marine-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics 
no later than 90 days after the adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 131 st 
Legislature. In order to provide for this transition, the Maine Ocean School shall: 
1. Develop a new funding model that will support the program; 
2. Develop a new supervisory model for the program, which may include agreements 
to join Regional School Unit 20 or another educational partner as a program instead of a 
diploma-granting educational institution. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the 
contrary, the Maine Ocean School is authorized to make and sign any agreements necessary 
to assist in the transition to this new supervisory model; 
3. Design the program to operate regionally and accept students at the program's 
physical location and through remote, virtual or distance-based learning for students 
attending from the local region and throughout the State; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
<(,..o<o 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" 4,, to H.P. 1023, L.D. 1389 
4. Endeavor to identify potential grant funding for which the program may be eligible 
and any other funding to support the new program from federal and private sources. 
The Maine Ocean School shall submit a report, no later than January 15, 2023, to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural 
affairs on the progress toward the transition to the program-based model, including 
suggested legislation necessary to finalize the transition. The committee may report out 
legislation related to the Maine Ocean School to the 131st Legislature in 2023.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment provides that all powers, duties and 
authority of the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, Transportation and 
Engineering, also known as the Maine Ocean School, terminate 90 days after the 
adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 13 lstLegislature. The Maine Ocean School 
is directed to transition from a public magnet school to an educational program focused on 
marine-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics by that date. In providing 
for that transition, the Maine Ocean School is required to develop a new funding model to 
support the program; develop a new supervisory model for the program, which may include 
agreements to assist the transition to that new supervisory model; design the program to 
operate regionally and accept students at the program's physical location and through 
remote, virtual or distance-based learning for students attending from the local region and 
throughout the State; and identify potential grant funding to support the program and any 
other funding from federal and private sources. 
The Maine Ocean School is required to report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs no later than January 15, 
2023 on the progress toward the transition to the program-based model, including 
suggested legislation necessary to finalize the transition. The committee may report out 
legislation based on the report. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
• Approved: 03/21/22 ,::k?ae:.. 
LD 1389 
LR 826(02) 
An Act To Improve Maritime Education in Maine 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,/r{f/ ,,_.f !51) 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other funds 
Additional costs to the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, Transportation and Engineering to implement 
the requirements of this legislation are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0826(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1