An Act to Expand Mame's Hlgh-quahty Early Leammg and Care for Children by Increasmg Pubhc Preschool Opportumties m Commumtles
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1799
Committee Amendment CA_A_S395 (Senate)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §4272, 20-A MRSA §4501

COMMITTEE AMEND:rvIBNT '~ " to S P 724, L D 1799, "An Act to Expand 
Mame's Hlgh-quahty Early Leammg and Care for Children by Increasmg Pubhc Preschool 
Opportumties m Commumtles" 
Amend the bill by msertmg after the title and before the enactmg clause the followmg 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislatme do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies, and 
Whereas, the Commiss10n to Study Expans10n of Public Preschool and Early Care 
and Educat10n is established pursuant to this leg1slat10n to explore options and establish a 
plan for full-day preschool and pathways for publicly funded eaily care and education 
programs, and 
Whereas, the work of the comm1ss1on must be mfonned by the work of the 
Department of Education relatmg to the expans10n of pubhc preschools, and 
Whereas, the study must be m1tiated before the 90-day penod exptres m order for the 
study to be completed and a report submitted m time for the next legislative sess10n, and 
Whereas, m the Judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency w1thm 
the meanmg of the Const1tut10n of Mame and reqmre the followmg leg1slation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the pubhc peace, health and safety, now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill by stnkmg out everythmg after the enactmg clause and msertmg the 
followmg 
'Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4272 1s enacted to read 
§4272. Expansion of public preschool programs report 
The comm1ss10ner shall report annually by February 15th to the 1omt standmg 
committee of the Legislature havmg mnsdict10n ovei education matters on the department's 
m1trnt1ves. mcentives and progress to expand pubhc preschool programs 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" Ir" to S P 724, L D 1799 
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §4501, first 1, as amended by PL 2019, c 343, Pt UUUU, 
§ 1, is further amended to read 
In accordance with the pohcy expressed m section 2, every school administrative umt 
shall raise annually sufficient funds to mamtam or support elementary and secondary 
schools to provide free education for its resident students at all grade levels These schools 
shall meet the reqmrements of basic school approval To the extent the State provides 
adequate start-up fundmg, a school administrative umt may offer an opportumty for every 
child 4 years of age residing m the school administrative umt to attend a pubhc preschool 
program, or a program affiliated with the school admm1strative umt, meetmg the 
requirements of basic school approval It is the goal of the State to provide adequate start 
up fuading to easure that pubhe presehool programs for chlldrea 4 years of age are offered 
by all school admuustratwe umts by the 2023 2024 school year establish an eg_mtable, 
mixed-dehvery pubhc preschool system that provides umversal access for preschool-aged 
chddren and their families m accordance with the following timehne 60% by the 2024-
2025 school year, 80% by the 2025-2026 school year, and 100% by the 2026-2027 school 
year 
Sec. 3. Commission established. The Commiss10n to Study Expansion of Pubhc 
Preschool and Early Care and Education, referred to m this sect10n as "the commiss10n," is 
established 
Notw1thstandmg Jomt Rule 353, the commiss10n consists of 15 members appointed 
as follows 
A Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, mcludmg a 
member from each of the 2 parties holdmg the largest number of seats m the 
Legislature, 
B Two members of the House of Representatives appomted by the Speakei of the 
House, mcludmg a member from each of the 2 parties holdmg the largest number of 
seats m the Legislature, 
C One representative from the Department of Health and Human Services involved m 
the provision of services for chddren and families of children under 5 years of age 
selected by the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, 
D One representative from the Department of Education involved m the prov1s1on of 
services for children and families of childi en under 5 years of age selected by the 
Commissioner of Education, 
E One representative of the pubhc school system nominated by the Mame School 
Management Association and appointed by the President of the Senate, 
F Two parents of children who are under 5 years of age who have used state services 
for their children, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by 
the Speake1 of the House, 
G One representative of family chdd care services appointed by the President of the 
Senate, 
H One representative of a Head Start program appointed by the President of the Senate, 
I One representative of center-based child care services appointed by the Speaker of 
the House, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,)1,, to S P 724, L D 1799 
J One representative of pubhc preschool teachers appomted by the Speaker of the 
House, 
K One member with expertise m school fundmg nommated by the Comm1ss1oner of 
Educat10n and appomted by the Speaker of the House, and 
L One representative from the Child Development Services System selected by the 
Comm1ss10ner of Education 
The first-named Senate member 1s the Senate chair, and the first-named House of 
Representatives member 1s the House chair of the comm1ss1on 
All appomtments must be made no later than 30 days followmg the effective date of 
this Act The appomtmg authorities shall notify the Executive Du ector of the Legislative 
Council once all appomtments have been completed After appomtment of all members, 
the chan s shall call and convene the first meetmg of the commiss10n If 3 0 days or more 
after the effective date of this Act a maJority of but not all appomtments have been made, 
the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the 
commission to meet and conduct its busmess 
The commiss10n shall explore opt10ns to provide full-day preschool and pathways 
for publicly funded early care and education programs The commission shall establish a 
plan that must address the followmg 
A How to offer publicly funded preschool m all types of programs and classrooms 
where 4-year-olds are enrolled, mcludmg, but not limited to, school admmistrative 
umts and licensed child caie programs such as Head Start p10grams, child care centers 
and family child care programs, 
B Partnerships between school admmistrattve umts and child care p10grams that meet 
or could be supported to meet the public preschool basic approval standards under 
Department of Education rule Chapter 124 Basic Approval Standards Public 
Preschool Programs, and 
C Ways to design a fundmg fonnula that can achieve the goal of 100% access to 
preschool programmmg by 2026 The commission shall establish a timehne, an 
implementat10n plan and mcentlves to expand publicly funded preschool programmmg 
to 30 homs per week or the length of the local school day at a school admmistrative 
umt with the goal of establishmg an eqmtable, mixed-delivery public preschool system 
that provides umversal access for preschool-aged children and their fam1hes as follows 
60% by the 2024-2025 school year, 80% by the 2025-2026 school yeai, and 100% by 
the 2026-2027 school year 
The commiss10n may also study and make recommendat10ns on ahgmng programs 
and blendmg and braidmg fundmg m early care and educat10n systems The comm1ss10n 
may make recommendations on the followmg 
A Improvmg the opportumtles for children under 5 years of age by ensurmg the 
availab1hty and coordmat10n of early childhood p10grams and services through the 
State with a focus on child development, educat10n and supportmg the needs of 
workmg fam1hes, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A " 
to S P 724, L D 1799 
B Pnontizmg the mterests and mput of children, parents, providers and the commumty 
m des1gnmg and dehvenng early childhood programs and services and the eqmtable 
delivery of resources and supports for early childhood educat10n, 
C Determmmg whether mtegratmg early care and education systems with a central 
state access pomt and a reg10nal hub structure could serve as part of a fundmg structure, 
D Exammmg how vanous fundmg streams can be blended and braided to provide 
more efficient service delivery for families and providers, and 
E Ensurmg that data about programs and early care and early childhood education 
systems are available to the public and aie shared, coordmated and used by the State to 
improve pohc1es and outcomes for children and families 
The Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the comm1ss10n, 
except that Legislative Council staff support 1s not authm 1zed when the Legislature 1s 111 
regular or special session 
No later than December 6, 2023, the commission shall submit a report that mcludes 
its findmgs and recommendations, mcludmg suggested legislat10n, to the Jomt Standmg 
Committee on Educat10n and Cultural Affatrs and the Jomt Standmg Committee on Health 
and Human Services The J omt Standmg Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs 
may report out a bill based on the recommendations to the Second Regular Sess10n of the 
Sec. 4. 
Department of Education respons1b1bties. The Department of 
Education, referred to m this section as "the department," shall mform the Jomt Standmg 
Committee on Educat10n and Cultural Affatrs and the Commission to Study Expans10n of 
Public Preschool and Early Care and Education on progress relatmg to the expansion of 
public preschools, and the department shall 
Develop a plan to align the credentials and trammg earned through the Mame Roads 
to Quality Profess10nal Development Network with those earned through the Department 
of Educat10n early childhood educat10n certificat10n The department, through a 
professional development and certification stakeholder workmg group, shall develop a plan 
that mcludes the followmg components 
A The development of a competency-based credential that recogmzes expenence, 
cumulative elective trammg hours and a demonstiat10n of knowledge and skills m early 
childhood teachmg practices, 
B Reciprocity for credit for or trammg hours toward cert1ficat10n from other states and 
countnes, 
C A Mame Roads to Quality Profess10nal Development Network career lattice to align 
with department educator credentials and that considers credentials obtamed m the 
absence of college course work of the same content, 
D Eligibility of family child care providers who hold and mamtam nat10nal 
accreditat10n standards accepted by the Department of Health and Human Services, 
Office of Child and Family Services as publicly funded preschool locat10ns, and 
E Collaboratmg with local adult educat10n providers, apprenticeship sponsors, career 
and techmcal education programs, the Mame Commumty College System and the 
Umvers1ty of Mame System to create art1culat10n agreements between these entities 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "fl "to SP 724, L D 1799 
for the transfer of credits for course work related to early childhood education and to 
facilitate enrollment m courses that lead to the awardmg of a postsecondary degree by 
an accredited mstitution of higher educat10n, and 
Report to the Commiss10n to Study Expans10n of Pubhc Preschool and Early Care 
and Education and the J omt Standmg Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs on 
progress relatmg to pubhc preschool expans10n, mcludmg estabhshmg state and 
commumty partnerships for a mixed delivery of child care and early childhood educat10n 
programs and services through commumty and school-based providers by November 15, 
2023 
Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations 
The followmg appropnations and 
allocations are made 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
Office of Innovation Z333 
Imtiative Provides one-t1me funds for the costs associated with developing a plan to align 
the credentials and trammg earned through the Mame Roads to Quality Profess10nal 
Development Network with those earned through the Department of Education Early 
Childhood Education certification 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
2023-24 
$5,000 
$5,000 
2024-25 
$0 
$0 
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited m the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved ' 
Amend the bill by relettermg or renumbermg any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the maJonty report of the committee, replaces the bill and 
adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause The amendment establishes an annual 
reporting reqmrement for the Department of Education to report to the Jomt standmg 
committee of the Legislature havmg Junsdict1on over education matters on the expansion 
of pubhc preschool programs and adds that it 1s the goal of the State to establish an 
eqmtable, m1xed-dehvery pub he preschool system that provides umve1 sal access for 
preschool-aged children and their families m accordance with the following trmelme 60% 
by the 2024-2025 school year, 80% by the 2025-2026 school year, and 100% by the 2026-
2027 school year 
The amendment also creates the Commission to Study Expansion of Pubhc Preschool 
and Early Care and Education and reqmres the commission to explore opt10ns, develop a 
plan and make recommendat10ns to 
Establish a timelme, an implementation plan and mcentives to expand publicly 
funded preschool programmmg to 3 0 hours per week or the length of the local school day 
at a school admmistrative umt with the goal of establishmg an eqmtable, mixed-delivery 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A " 
to S P 724, L D 1799 
public preschool system that provides umversal access for preschool-aged children and 
their families, 
Provide for expansion to full-day preschool and pathways for child care programs to 
become publicly funded, and 
Ahgn and braid and blend fundmg m early care and early childhood education 
systems 
The department is reqmred to mform the commiss10n and the Jomt Standmg 
Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs on the progress relatmg to pubhc preschool 
expans10n no later than November 15, 2023, and the commission is required to report its 
fmdmgs and recommendat10ns to the Jomt Standmg Committee on Education and Cultural 
Affairs and the Jomt Standmg Committee on Health and Human Services no later than 
December 6, 2023 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved 06/18/23 ~ae. 
LD 1799 
LR 1861(02) 
An Act to Expand Mame's High-quality Early Learnmg and Care for Children by Increasmg Pubhc 
Preschool Opportunities m Commumties 
Fiscal Note for BIii as Amended by Committee Amendment '~' ( q-:3q?:) 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
~\ Net Cost (Savmgs) 
) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Fiscal Note Reqmred: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
FY 2023-24 
FY 2024-25 
$5,000 
$0 
$5,000 
$0 
Pro1ections 
FY 2025-26 
$0 
$0 
Pro1ections 
FY 2026-27 
$0 
$0 
The general operatmg expenses of this study are projected to be $3,050 m fiscal year 2023-24 The Legislature's 
proposed budget for the 2024-2025 biennium mcludes $14,500 m each of fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25 for the 
costs oflegislatlve studies, as well as $2,234 m projected balances from fiscal year 2022-23 and $36,777 of balances 
earned over from pnor years for this purpose Whether these amounts are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on 
the number of studies authonzed by the Legislative Council and the Legislature The addit10nal costs of providmg 
staffing assistance to the study dunng the mtenm can be absorbed ut1hzmg ex1stmg budgeted staff resources 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill mcludes a one-time General Fund appropnat10n of $5,000 m fiscal year 2023-24 to the Office of Innovation 
witlun the Department of Education for the costs associated with developmg a plan to ahgn the credentials and 
trammg earned through the Mame Roads to Quality Profess10nal Development Network with those earned through the 
Department of Education Early Childhood Educat10n certificat10n 
Any addit10nal costs to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education associated 
with havmg a representative serve on the commiss10n can be absorbed withm existmg budgeted resources Additional 
costs to the Department of Educat10n to prepare the requtred annual reports can also be absorbed withm existmg 
budgeted resources 
LR1861(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1