An Act to Create a Training Program for School Board Members and Establish School Board Meeting Standards
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1567
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: LYMAN, TIMBERLAKE, CYRWAY, HAGGAN, QUINT, SAMPSON, SCHMERSAL-BURGESS, BALDACCI, KEIM, LIBBY
Amends: 20-A MRSA §1005, 20-A MRSA §1006

Legislative Document
No. 1567
H.P. 1012
House of Representatives, April 11, 2023
An Act to Create a Training Program for School Board Members 
and Establish School Board Meeting Standards
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative LYMAN of Livermore Falls.
Cosponsored by Senator TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin and
Representatives: CYRWAY of Albion, HAGGAN of Hampden, QUINT of Hodgdon, 
SAMPSON of Alfred, SCHMERSAL-BURGESS of Mexico, Senators: BALDACCI of 
Penobscot, KEIM of Oxford, LIBBY of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §1005 is enacted to read:
§1005.  School board meeting standards
1. Standards required.  The department by rule shall adopt standards for the conduct 
of school board meetings, including the role of a school board member during a meeting.
2. Violation.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, if a school board 
member violates a standard adopted under subsection 1, the school board by a majority 
vote in an executive session may remove the school board member from office.  The school 
board shall call a special election to fill a vacancy caused by a removal performed under 
this subsection.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §1006 is enacted to read:
§1006.  School board member training
1.  Training program.  The department by rule shall develop a training program, 
including a fact sheet, for school board members that explains:
A.  The laws applicable to school board members;
B.  The rights and responsibilities of school board members; and
C.  The standards adopted under section 1005.
2.  Rules.  Rules adopted or amended by the department to implement this section are 
major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 3.  Committee established. Notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the Committee to 
Study School Board Member Training, referred to in this section as "the committee," is 
established. 
1. Membership.  The committee consists of 4 members appointed as follows:
A. Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including a 
member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the 
Legislature; and
B. Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, including a member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of 
seats in the Legislature.
The members appointed must serve on the Joint Standing Committee on Education and 
Cultural Affairs.
2. Committee chair.  The first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-
named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the committee.
3. Appointments; convening of committee.  All appointments must be made no later 
than 30 days following the adoption of rules required by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
20-A, section 1006, subsection 2. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive 
Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been made. When the 
appointment of all members has been completed, the chairs of the committee shall call and 
convene the first meeting of the committee. If 30 days or more after the adoption of rules 
under Title 20-A, section 1006, subsection 2 a majority of but not all appointments have 
been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant 
authority for the committee to meet and conduct its business.
4. Duties.  The committee shall review the training program developed as required by 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 1006, including the standards adopted 
under Title 20-A, section 1005, and determine the best way to disseminate the training 
program to school board members. The committee shall invite the participation of and 
comments from stakeholders, including but not limited to school administrators, educators 
and parents. The committee shall invite the participation of the Department of Education. 
The committee shall recommend how the dissemination of the training program should be 
incorporated into law in this State. The committee shall explore options, including the 
application of federal grant funds, to defray all or some of the initial and ongoing costs.
5. Staff assistance.  The Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services 
to the committee, except that Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when the 
Legislature is in regular or special session.
6. Report.  No later than December 6, 2023, the committee shall submit a report that 
includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs.  The committee may submit 
legislation based upon the report to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Education to create a training program and meeting 
standards for school board members and establishes a legislative committee to review the 
training program and meeting standards and suggest means of disseminating the training 
program to school board members.  The bill provides for the removal from office of a 
school board member who violates the meeting standards.