An Act to Expand Access to School Construction Funding
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1415
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: BRENNAN, CHIPMAN, COLLINGS, CROCKETT, DODGE, MALON, SALISBURY, SHAGOURY, ZAGER, PIERCE
Amends: 20-A MRSA §15905

Legislative Document
No. 1415
H.P. 911
House of Representatives, March 30, 2023
An Act to Expand Access to School Construction Funding
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BRENNAN of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator CHIPMAN of Cumberland and
Representatives: COLLINGS of Portland, CROCKETT of Portland, DODGE of Belfast, 
MALON of Biddeford, SALISBURY of Westbrook, SHAGOURY of Hallowell, ZAGER of 
Portland, Senator: PIERCE of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §15905, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2019, c. 616, Pt. C, 
§9, is further amended to read:
A.  The state board may approve projects as long as no project approval will cause debt 
service costs, as defined in section 15672, subsection 2‑A, paragraph A and pursuant 
to rules adopted in accordance with Resolve 2007, chapter 223, section 4, to exceed 
the maximum limits specified in Table 1 and Table 2 in subsequent fiscal years.
Table 1
Major Capital
Integrated, Consolidated 
Secondary and Postsecondary 
Project
 Fiscal year
Maximum Debt Service Limit
Maximum Debt Service Limit
 1990
$ 48,000,000
 1991
$ 57,000,000
 1992
$ 65,000,000
 1993
$ 67,000,000
 1994
$ 67,000,000
 1995
$ 67,000,000
 1996
$ 67,000,000
 1997
$ 67,000,000
 1998
$ 67,000,000
 1999
$ 69,000,000
 2000
$ 72,000,000
 2001
$ 74,000,000
 2002
$ 74,000,000
 2003
$ 80,000,000
 2004
$ 80,000,000
 2005
$ 84,000,000
 2006
$ 90,000,000
 2007
$ 96,000,000
 2008
$100,000,000
 2009
$104,000,000
 2010
$108,000,000
 2011
$126,000,000
 2012
 $116,000,000
 2013
 $116,000,000
 2014
 $126,000,000
$10,000,000
 2015
 $126,000,000
$10,000,000
 2016
 $126,000,000
$10,000,000
 2017
 $126,000,000
$10,000,000
 2018
 $126,000,000
$10,000,000
 2019
 $126,000,000
$10,000,000
 2020
 $126,000,000
$20,000,000
 2021
 $126,000,000
$20,000,000
 2022
 $126,000,000
$20,000,000
 2023
 $126,000,000
$20,000,000
Table 2
 Fiscal year
Maximum Debt Service Limit  
 2024
$150,000,000
 2025
$150,000,000
 2026
$150,000,000
 2027
$150,000,000
Sec. 2.  School construction projects.  The State Board of Education shall amend 
its rule Chapter 61: Rules for Major Capital School Construction Projects, Section 15 
regarding administering funding for integrated, consolidated 9-16 educational facilities to 
allow the governing body of one high school or a regional high school together with a 
career and technical high school to apply for funding for a proposed school.  Rules adopted 
to comply with this section are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 3.  Calendar year 2024 funding.  In calendar year 2024, a school 
administrative unit is eligible to apply for funding for both a major capital school 
construction project under State Board of Education rule Chapter 61:  Rules for Major 
Capital School Construction Projects and an integrated, consolidated 9-16 educational 
facility under Section 15 of that rule.
Sec. 4.  Stakeholder group for implementation of Maine Public School 
Construction Authority.  The Commissioner of Education shall convene a group of 
qualified stakeholders for the purpose of making recommendations on how to establish and 
finance the Maine Public School Construction Authority, the purpose of which would be 
to finance elementary and secondary public school construction projects. The 
commissioner shall report the recommendations of the stakeholder group, including any 
necessary implementing legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and 
Cultural Affairs no later than December 6, 2023.  The joint standing committee may report 
out legislation related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.
SUMMARY
This bill:
1.  Requires the State Board of Education, in administering funding for integrated, 
consolidated 9-16 educational facilities, to allow the governing body of one high school or 
a regional high school to apply for funding for a proposed school.  Current state board rules 
require 2 high schools or a regional high school to apply. The bill directs the board to amend 
its rules to be consistent with this change;
2.  Allows, in calendar year 2024, a school administrative unit to be eligible to apply 
for funding for both a major capital school construction project and an integrated, 
consolidated 9-16 educational facility project; and
3. Requires the Commissioner of Education to convene a stakeholder group to develop 
recommendations for the establishment and financing of the Maine Public School 
Construction Authority.  The purpose of the new authority would be to finance elementary 
and secondary public school construction projects.  The commissioner is required to submit 
a report regarding the recommendations of the stakeholder group to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, which may report out legislation related to 
the report to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.