An Act to Allow School Administrative District No. 52 to Issue Temporary Notes for a Wastewater Treatment Project (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2257
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: TIMBERLAKE, WOOD, MORRIS

Legislative Document
No. 2257
S.P. 974
In Senate, March 7, 2024
An Act to Allow School Administrative District No. 52 to Issue 
Temporary Notes for a Wastewater Treatment Project
(AFTER DEADLINE)
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin.
Cosponsored by Representative WOOD of Greene and
Representative: MORRIS of Turner.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, School Administrative District No. 52, referred to in this preamble as "the 
district," owns and operates a wastewater treatment plant in the Town of Turner for its 
school facilities and other private users; and
Whereas, the Department of Environmental Protection authorized a project to replace 
the wastewater treatment plant with a new system with subsurface disposal to address 
overboard discharge affecting the Nezinscot River; and
Whereas, the voters of the district authorized the issuance of up to $1,612,000 in 
bonds to fund the wastewater treatment project; and
Whereas, on March 31, 2021, the district issued a temporary note in the principal 
amount of $1,612,000 through the State's Clean Water State Revolving Fund to provide 
temporary financing for the wastewater treatment project through project completion; and
Whereas, the wastewater treatment project has been unexpectedly delayed due to the 
COVID-19 emergency and difficulties locating a suitable site for subsurface disposal and 
is not expected to be completed until August 2025; and
Whereas, under state law, temporary notes issued by the district must mature not later 
than 3 years from the date the first temporary note is issued; and
Whereas, under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the district may not issue 
long-term bonds for the project until the project is completed; and
Whereas, the unexpected delays have made it necessary for the district to issue 
temporary notes later than 3 years from the date the first temporary note was issued; 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.  Validation and authorization. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, section 1311, subsection 3, paragraph C, School Administrative 
District No. 52, referred to in this section as "the district," may issue temporary notes in a 
total principal amount not to exceed $1,612,000 that mature not later than March 31, 2026 
as necessary to finance a project authorized by the Department of Environmental Protection 
to replace the wastewater treatment plant with a new system with subsurface disposal in 
the Town of Turner.  The district may, as necessary, issue refunding notes or renewal notes 
pursuant to this section.  Any refunding notes or renewal notes issued pursuant to this 
section must meet the same requirements applicable to temporary notes as described in this 
section.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill extends the time period in which School Administrative District No. 52 may 
issue temporary notes to finance a wastewater treatment plant project, which has been 
unexpectedly delayed due to the COVID-19 emergency and difficulties locating a suitable 
site for subsurface disposal.