An Act to Establish the African American Studies Advisory Council and Require Funding for African American Studies
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2001
Committee Amendment CA_A_H763 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " /\» to H.P. 1279, L,D, 2001, "An Act to Establish
the African American Studies Advisory Council and Require Funding for African
American Studies"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'Resolve, to Establish the African American and Wabanaki Studies Advisory Council
and Provide Funding to Support African American Studies and Wabanaki Studies'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
'See. 1. African American and Wabanaki Studies Advisory Council
established. Resolved: That the African American and Wabanaki Studies Advisory
Council, referred to in this resolve as "the advisory council," is established to serve as a
resource to educators, schools and the Department of Education to ensure the
implementation of African American studies and Wabanaki studies m accordance with the
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 4706.
1. The advisory council consists of the following 15 members:
A, One member appointed by the Chief of the Penobscot Nation;
B. One member appointed by the Chief of the Houlton Band ofMaliseet Indians;
C. One member appointed by the Chief of the Ml'kmaq Nation;
D, One member appointed by the Chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik;
E, One member appointed by the Chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk;
F, One member appointed by the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission;
G. One member appointed by the President of the Senate from a list provided by the
administrator of the Gerald E. Talbot Collection at the University of Southern IVIaine;
H. One member of the public with expertise in Maine African American culture and
history appointed by the Speaker of the House;
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to H.P, 1279, L.D. 2001
I, One member who is a representative of an African American civil rights organization
appointed by the Speaker of the House from a list provided by a statewide African
American civil rights organization;
J, Four members appointed by the Commissioner of Education as follows:
(1) An elementary school teacher;
(2) A middle school teacher;
(3) A high school teacher; and
(4) A curriculum director with experience in African American studies or
Wabanaki slid ies; and
K., Two members from the University of Maine System who specialize in teacher
education appointed by the Chancellor of the University of Maine System, Of these 2
members, one must have experience teaching in African American studies and one
must have experience teaching in Wabanaki studies,
To the extent practicable, appointing authorities under this subsection shall appoint
members with expertise in Maine African American culture and history or Wabanaki
culture and history,
2, The advisory council shall select a chair from among the members of the advisory
council. The chair is authorized to appoint subcommittees.
3. Members of the advisory council may receive a stipend for participation m advisoiy
council meetings and other activities of the advisory council,
4, The advisoiy.council shall:
A. Assist school administrative units and educators in the exploration of a wide range
of educational materials and resources relating to African American studies and
Wabanaki studies;
B, Identify materials and resources for implementing African American studies and
Wabanaki studies;
C. Involve other knowledgeable organizations and individuals able and willing to assist
with the duties described in paragraphs A and B, including, but not limited to,
museums, the Maine State Archives and educators;
D, Make recommendations to the Department of Education regarding:
(1) African American studies and Wabanaki studies curricula;
(2) Revisions to the African American studies and Wabanaki studies components
of the system of learning results pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title
20-A, section 6209;
(3) Funding of African American studies and Wabanaki studies in school
administrative units; and
(4) Opportunities for teacher professional development, training and technical
assistance to assist school administrative units and educators in implementing
African American studies and Wabanaki studies; and
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ^ " to H.P. 1279, L.D. 2001
E, Use data gathered pursuant to the representative statewide sampling conducted by
the Department of Education under subsection 6 of African American studies and
Wabanaki studies curricula in school administrative units to establish a baseline
measure of the implementation of African American studies and Wabanaki studies in
school administrative units,
5, The advisory council shall submit the following reports to the joint standing
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters;
A. No later than January 15, 2025, an interim report on the formation of the advisory
council and progress of the unplementation of African American studies and Wabanaki
studies;
B. No later than January 15, 2026, an interim report on the progress of the
implementation of African American studies and Wabanaki studies and the results of
the representative statewide sampling conducted by the Department of Education under
subsection 6 of African American studies and Wabanaki studies curricula in school
administrative units and any baseline measures of the implementation of African
American studies and Wabanaki studies established by the advisory council; and
C, No later than January 15, 2027, a fmal report on the implementation of African
American studies and Wabanaki studies. The final report must include an evaluation
of the effectiveness of the implementation of African American studies and Wabanald
studies and a recommendation on whether the advisory council should be established
permanently.
The j oint standing committee of the Legislature having j urisdiction over education matters
may report out a bill related to each report in the legislative session in which it is received,
6, The Department of Education shall provide staffing assistance to the advisory
council and shall conduct a representative statewide sampling of African American studies
and Wabanaki studies curricula in school administrative units,
Sec. 2. Appointments to advisory council; convening. Resolved: That, no
later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve, the appointing authorities
shall make their appointments to the advisory council and notify the Commissioner of
Education, Within 30 days of the appointments being made, the Commissioner of
Education shall call and convene the first meeting of the advisory council and preside over
the selection of a chair.
Sec. 3. Professional development in African American studies and
Wabanaki studies. Resolved: That the Department of Education shall develop
professional development opportunities for educators in African American studies and
Wabanaki studies,
Sec. 4. Teacher certification; study. Resolved: That the State Board of
Education shall convene a stakeholder group, including, but not limited to, representatives
from the Department of Education and higher education teacher preparation programs, to
study the development of an endorsement in African American studies or Wabanaki studies
on an educator credential or the inclusion of a requirement for an African American studies
or Wabanaki studies course as a requirement for an educator credential in this State, The
State Board of Education shall submit a report to the joint standing committee having
jurisdiction over education matters no later than January 1 5,2025.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ^\" to H.P.1279, L.D.2001
Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following
appropriations and allocations are made,
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Innovative Teaching and Learning N482
Initiative; Provides one-time funds to support the work of the African American and
Wabanaki Studies Advisory Council and to administer and provide grants to school
administrative units to expand or implement an African American studies curriculum,
Funds appropriated for this purpose do not lapse but must be carried forward to the next
fiscal year to be used for the same purpose,
GENERAL FUND 2023-24 2024-25
AllOther $0 $1,000,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $1,000,000
Innovative Teaching and Learning N482
Initiative: Provides one-time funds to support the work of the African American and
Wabanaki Studies Advisory Council and to administer and provide grants to school
administrative units to expand or implement a Wabanaki studies curriculum. Funds
appropriated for this purpose do not lapse but must be carried forward to the next fiscal
year to be used for the same purpose.
GENERAL FUND 2023-24 2024-25
AHOther $0 $1,000,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $1,000,000
Innovative Teaching and Learning N482
Initiative; Provides one-time funds to administer and provide grants to school
administrative units to expand or implement financial literacy, civics or other system of
learning results curricula. Funds appropriated for this purpose do not lapse but must be
carried forward to the next fiscal year to be used for the same purpose.
GENERAL FUND 2023-24 2024-25
AllOther $0 $1,000,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $1,000,000
3 Innovative Teaching and Learning N482
Initiative; Provides ongoing funds for one Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist position
to serve as a content specialist in African American studies and Wabanald studies and to
, provide outreach to school administrative units with support and technical assistance in
curriculum development and implementation of African American studies and Wabanaki
studies.
GENERAL FUND 2023-24 2024-25
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 0.000 1.000
Personal Services $0 $101,479
AllOther $0 $9,410
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A " to H,P,1279, L,D,2001
ROS --—-—— p —-^
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $110,889
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2023-24 2024-25
GENERAL FUND $0 $3,110,889
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS $0 $3,110,889
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively,
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the bill with
a resolve and does the following.
1, It establishes the African American and Wabanaki Studies Advisory Council to
serve as a resource to educators, schools and the Department of Education to ensure the
implementation of African American shjdies and Wabanaki studies in accordance with the
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 4706, Appointments to the advisory council
must be made withm 30 days of the effective date of the resolve by the appointing
authorities. The duties of the advisory council include;
A, Assisting school administrative units and educators in the exploration of a wide
range of educational materials and resources relating to African American studies and
Wabanaki studies;
B, Identifying materials and resources for implementing African American studies and
Wabanaki studies;
C. Making recommendations to the Department of Education regarding African
American studies and Wabanaki studies curricula, revisions to the system of learning
results, funding and opportunities for professional development, training and technical
assistance; and
D, Using data gathered pursuant to a representative statewide sampling conducted by
the Department of Education of African American studies and Wabanaki studies
curricula in school administrative units to establish a baseline measure of the
implementation of African American studies and Wabanaki studies in school
administrative units,
The advisory council is directed to submit reports to the joint standing committee of the
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters in Januaiy of 2025, 2026 and 2027,
The final report must include a recommendation on whether the advisory council should
be made permanent,
2, It directs the Department of Education to develop professional development
opportunities for educators in African American studies and Wabanaki studies.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
ROS COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ^ " to H.P. 1279, L.D. 2001
3, It directs the State Board of Education to convene a stakeholder group to study the
development of an endorsement in African American studies or Wabanald studies on an
educator credential or the inclusion of a requirement for an African American studies or
Wabanald studies course as a requirement for an educator credential in this State and report
back to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education
matters no later than January 15, 2025.
4, It provides an appropriations and allocations section to;
A. Establish a content specialist position in the Department of Education in African
American studies and Wabanaki studies and to provide outreach to school
administrative units with support and technical assistance in curriculum development
and implementation of African American studies and Wabanaki studies;
B, Provide $1,000,000 in one-time, nonlapsing funds in fiscal year 2024-25 to the
Department of Education to support the work of the African American and Wabanaki
Studies Advisory Council and administer and provide grants to school administrative
units to expand or implement African American studies curricula;
C. Provide $1,000,000 in one-time, nonlapsing funds in fiscal year 2024-25 to the
Department of Education to support the work of the African American and Wabanaki
Studies Advisory Council and administer and provide grants to school administrative
units to expand or implement Wabanaki studies curricula; and
D, Provide $ 1,000,000 in one-time, nonlapsing funds in the fiscal year 2024-25 to the
Department of Education to administer and provide grants to school administrative
units to expand or implement financial literacy, civics or other system of learning
results curricula.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved; 02/09/24 ^^ci
LD 2001 LR 1466(02)
An Act to Establish the African American Studies Advisory Council and Require Funding for African
American Studies
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "^" (^ ' '4-(<?S
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $3,110,889 $123,550 $127,679
Appropriations/AIlocations
General Fund $0 $3,110,889 $123,550 $127,679
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill includes General Fund appropriations totaling $3,110,889 in fiscal year 2024-25 to the Innovative Teaching
and Learning program within the Department of Education. Of this amount, $2,000,000 in nonlapsing funds is
appropriated on a one-time basis to support the work of the African American and Wabanaki Studies Advisory
Council and to administer and provide grants to school administrative units (SAUs) to expand or implement African
American and Wabanald Studies curricula and $1,000,000 in nonlapsing funds is appropriated on a one-time basis to
provide grants to SAUs to expand or implement financial literacy, civics or other Maine Learning Results curricula.
Additionally, $110,889 is appropriated on an ongoing basis in fiscal year 2024-25 for one Interdisciplinary Instruction
Specialist position to serve as a content specialist in African American and Wabanaki Studies to provide support and
technical assistance to SAUs.
LR1466(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of I