Resolve, Establishing
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1558
Committee Amendment CA_A_H629 (House)

COMMITTEEAMEND:rvIBNT"A-"to H.P. 1016, L.D. 1558, "Resolve, Establishing 
the Commission to Update Maine's Public Policy on Higher Education" 
Amend the resolve by inserting after the title the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation establishes the Commission to Update Maine's Public Policy 
on Higher Education; and 
Whereas, this legislation must take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period 
so that the commission may timely meet and make its report to the Legislature by 
November 4, 2026; 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' 
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the commission consists of 14 members, including: 
1. Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, who serve 
on the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, including one member 
of the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and one member of the 
party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature; 
2. Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, who serve on the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, 
including one member of the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature 
and one member of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A" to H.P. 1016, L.D. 1558 
3. One member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of the Maine 
Community College System, the University of Maine System or the Maine Maritime 
Academy, appointed by the President of the Senate, as recommended by the Maine 
Education Association Board of Directors; 
4. One member representing the Certification and Higher Education Committee of the 
State Board of Education, appointed by the President of the Senate, as recommended by 
the Chair of the State Board of Education; 
5. One member representing private colleges and universities in the State, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House, as recommended by the Maine Independent Colleges 
Association; 
6. The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the chancellor's designee; 
7. The Chair of the University of Maine System Board of Trustees or the chair's 
designee; 
8. The President of the Maine Community College System or the president's designee; 
9. The Chair of the Maine Community College System Board of Trustees or the chair's 
designee; 
10. The Chair of the Maine Maritime Academy Board of Trustees or the chair's 
designee; 
11. The President of the Maine Maritime Academy or the president's designee; and 
12. The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee, 
In appointing members of the commission, the appointing authorities shall give 
consideration to race, gender, socioeconomic diversity and geographic diversity.' 
Amend the resolve in section 4 in the first line (page 1, line 39 in L.D.) by insetting 
after the following: "commission" the following: 1; number of meetings' 
Amend the resolve in section 4 in the last line (page 2, line 6 in L.D.) by inserting after 
the following: "business." the following: 'The commission may not meet more than 8 times.' 
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 7 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, no later than 
November 4, 2026, the commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and 
recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters. The joint standing committee may 
report out a bill related to the report to the 133rd Legislature in 2027.' 
Amend the resolve by adding before the summary the following: 
'Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the resolve by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1016, L.D. 1558 
SUMMARY 
This amendment makes the following changes to the Commission to Update Maine's 
Public Policy on Higher Education. 
1. It changes the membership from 17 members to 14 members as follows: 
A. It changes the membership from 3 members of the House of Representatives to 2 
members; 
B. It removes a member with expertise in higher education policy issues representing 
a statewide education policy research institute; 
C. It removes a member who is employed as a faculty member at a private college or 
university in the State; 
D. It removes a member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of 
the University of Maine System; 
E. It removes a member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of 
the Maine Maritime Academy; 
F. It removes a member who is cutTently enrolled as a student at a college or university 
in the State; and 
G. It adds 3 members, one member each from the board of trustees of the University 
of Maine System, the Maine Community College System and the Maine Maritime 
Academy. 
2. 
It requires that certain appointments must be recommended by specific 
organizations. 
3. It specifies that the commission may meet no more than 8 times. 
4. It changes the reporting date from December 3, 2025 to November 4, 2026. 
5. It adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/27 /25 LRL 
LD 1558 
LR 1869(02) 
Resolve, Establishing the Commission to Update Maine's Public Policy on Higher Education 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment •A• {/-1--6 2q \ 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
/ 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Legislative Cost/Study 
The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $2,800 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $3,05.0 in fiscal 
year 2026-27. The Legislature's proposed budget for the 2026-2027 biennium includes $22,196 in each of fiscal 
s 
2025-26 and 2026-27 for the costs oflegislative studies, as well as $8,265 in projected balances from fiscal year '.L.v24-
and $33,073 of balances carried over from prior years for this purpose. Whether these amounts are sufficient to 
fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. The 
additional costs of providing staffing assistance to the study during the interim can be absorbed utilizing existing 
budgeted staff resources. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Education, the State Board of Education, the University of Maine System, the 
Maine Community College System and Maine Maritime Academy to serve on the commission and to provide any data 
or infom1ation the commission considers relevant can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1869(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1