An Act to Support Outdoor, Agricultural-based and Hands-on
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0550
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: GUERIN, LYMAN

Legislative Document
No. 550
S.P. 202
In Senate, February 11, 2025
An Act to Support Outdoor, Agricultural-based and Hands-on 
Experiential Learning in Public Schools
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator GUERIN of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Representative LYMAN of Livermore Falls and
Senator: BLACK of Franklin, Representatives: DODGE of Belfast, MITCHELL of 
Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA c. 10-E is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 10-E
MAINE EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
§320-T.  Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
1.  Farm and sea to school learning program.  "Farm and sea to school learning 
program" means a program that incorporates agricultural-based education, hands-on 
learning through school gardens and increased access to local foods through local 
procurement by school meal programs; improves access to local seafood sourcing by 
school meal programs; and provides seafood education in schools. 
2.  Fund.  "Fund" means the Maine Experiential Education Program Fund established 
in section 320-V.
3.  Program.  "Program" means the Maine Experiential Education Program established 
in section 320-U.
4.  Public school.  "Public school" has the same meaning as in Title 20-A, section 1, 
subsection 24.
5.  School administrative unit.  "School administrative unit" has the same meaning as 
in Title 20-A, section 1, subsection 26 and includes a public school.
6.  Student.  "Student" means an individual enrolled in prekindergarten to grade 12 in 
a public school or school administrative unit.
§320-U.  Maine Experiential Education Program
The Maine Experiential Education Program is established to support the outdoor, 
experiential and farm and sea to school learning program needs of public schools and 
school administrative units.
1.  Program administration.  The department shall administer the program. In 
administering the program, the department may collaborate with the Department of 
Education and other state agencies and nonprofit organizations that support farm and sea 
to school learning programs, local food procurement and other experiential learning 
initiatives in public schools and school administrative units. 
2.  Purposes.  The program shall:
A.  Develop and manage a grant program to help public schools and school 
administrative units create staff positions that support:
(1)  The learning and academic development of students by ensuring that public 
schools and school administrative units interested in the program have the capacity 
necessary to provide experiential hands-on learning;
(2)  The health and physical development of students by ensuring that public 
schools and school administrative units interested in the program have the capacity 
necessary to help students build connections between the food that students and 
their communities produce and the food that they prepare and eat; and
(3)  The emotional and behavioral development of students by ensuring that public 
schools and school administrative units interested in the program have the capacity 
necessary to build, expand and maintain school gardens and other experiential 
learning spaces; and
B.  Provide ongoing support to public school educators engaged in experiential hands-
on education initiatives for continuing education and professional development 
opportunities.
§320-V.  Maine Experiential Education Program Fund
1.  Fund established.  The Maine Experiential Education Program Fund is established 
within the department.  The fund is nonlapsing and may be invested in the same manner as 
permitted for investment of other state funds.  The fund must be held separate and apart 
from all other money, funds and accounts.  Any balance remaining in the fund at the end 
of the fiscal year must be carried forward to the next fiscal year. 
2.  Use of fund.  The department shall use money in the fund to:
A.  Provide multiyear grants to public schools and school administrative units to help 
establish experiential education positions and outdoor educator positions within the 
public schools and school administrative units through a cost-sharing agreement in 
accordance with the following provisions.
(1)  In the first grant year, the fund covers the full cost of salary and benefits, or 
stipend, of a position; in the 2nd grant year, the fund covers 2/3 of the cost of salary 
and benefits, or stipend, for the same position and the public school or school 
administrative unit covers 1/3 of the cost; in the 3rd grant year, the fund covers 1/3 
of the cost of salary and benefits, or stipend, for the same position and the public 
school or school administrative unit covers 2/3 of the cost; and, in subsequent grant 
years, the public school or school administrative unit covers the full cost of salary 
and benefits, or stipend, for the same or similar position.
(2)  Grants must be made to public schools and school administrative units in a 
manner that ensures the public schools and school administrative units create 
experiential education positions and outdoor educator positions that meet the 
outdoor, experiential or farm and sea to school education learning program needs 
of the public schools and school administrative units.
(3)  Grants must be developed and dispersed so that public schools and school 
administrative units gradually assume full financial responsibility for the positions 
as described in subparagraphs (1) and (2) over a period not to exceed 3 years from 
the awarding of the grant for any individual public school or school administrative 
unit.
In dispersing grant money from the fund, the department shall prioritize opportunities 
to expand the range of positions funded by the fund, including such positions as stipend 
garden coaches, educational technicians and teachers; and
B.  Provide for a staff position within the department to administer the program and the 
fund. 
3.  Fund sources.  The following must be paid into the fund:
A.  All money appropriated or allocated by the Legislature for inclusion in the fund;
B.  All interest earned from investments of the fund; and
C.  All money designated for deposit into the fund from any source, public or private.
§320-W.  Evaluation and reporting
The department shall monitor and evaluate the program and submit an annual report to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, 
conservation and forestry matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over education matters describing the successes and challenges of 
instituting experiential education in public schools and school administrative units.
§320-X.  Rules
The department shall adopt rules to implement this chapter.  Rules adopted pursuant to 
this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2. Maine Farm and Sea to School Institute support.  As part of the Maine 
Experiential Education Program established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, 
chapter 10-E, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may provide 
support to the Maine Farm and Sea to School Institute in collaboration with the Maine Farm 
and Sea to School Network, other appropriate state agencies and nonprofit organizations 
that support farm and sea to school learning programs as defined in Title 7, section 320-T, 
subsection 1 and local food procurement initiatives in the State's public schools and school 
administrative units.  Support under this section includes, but is not limited to, ensuring 
that public schools and school administrative units, including those participating in the 
Maine Experiential Education Program, have access to professional learning opportunities 
and coaching designed to ensure the creation of achievable goals for the purposes of:
1.  Enhancing the learning and academic development of students by ensuring that 
public schools and school administrative units have the capacity necessary to provide the 
deeper learning and knowledge gained through experiential hands-on learning; and
2.  Enhancing access to high-quality products grown and harvested in the State through 
increased local procurement and connections between schools, students and local farms 
and fisheries.
Sec. 3. First annual report. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry shall submit its first annual report pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, 
section 320-W within one year from the effective date of this Act.
Sec. 4.  Contingent effective date. This Act does not take effect unless:
1. The United States Congress, United States Department of Agriculture or other public 
or private entity creates an opportunity for the State to access funding for the purpose of 
implementing and managing the Maine Experiential Education Program established under 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, chapter 10-E; and
2. The Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry notifies the Secretary 
of State, the Secretary of the Senate, the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the 
Revisor of Statutes that the funding opportunity under subsection 1 exists and that funding 
has been secured.
In no event may this Act become effective until 90 days after adjournment of the First 
Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Maine Experiential Education Program within the Department 
of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to develop and manage a grant program that 
provides support for public schools and school administrative units to create staff positions 
that provide outdoor and experiential hands-on learning opportunities, including 
opportunities related to gardens, food and agriculture, to improve the health of and 
academic, physical and emotional development of students. The program also supports 
professional development opportunities for public school educators engaged in experiential 
hands-on learning initiatives. The bill also establishes the Maine Experiential Education 
Program Fund to provide funding for the program including funds to cover the cost of 
salary and benefits for the staff positions funded by the program, the funding of which must 
be phased-out after the 3rd year of funding, and funding to create a position within the 
department to administer the program and the fund.
The bill also authorizes the department to provide support to the Maine Farm and Sea 
to School Institute.
This legislation is contingent upon funding from the United States Congress, United 
States Department of Agriculture or other public or private entity being available and 
secured for the purpose of implementing and managing the program and the Commissioner 
of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and other specified individuals being notified.