An Act to Require the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0375
Committee Amendment CA_A_S78 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " /T " to S.P. 170, L.D. 375, "An Act to Require the
University of Maine Scliool of Law to Provide an Online Degree Program"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'Resolve, Directing the University of Maine System to Study the Feasibility of Distance
Learning Programs at the University of Maine School of Law'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
'See. 1. University of Maine System to study feasibility of distance learning
courses at University of Maine School of Law. Resolved: That the University of
Maine System shall study the feasibility of expanding the current juris doctor degree
program at the University of Maine School of Law to offer distance learning courses and
examine providing a new juris doctor degree program that provides 100% distance
learning, The feasibility study must include the following;
1. The costs of operating the current juris doctor degree program with distance learning
courses and the anticipated effect the offering of distance learning courses will have on
student enrollment in the program;
2. The costs of operating a new juris doctor degree program that provides 100%
distance learning courses and the anticipated enrollment of students in such a program;
3. The process and costs of the University of Maine School of Law to apply to the
American Bar Association for acquiescence, as necessary, to offer a juris doctor degree
program with distance learning, whether by expanding the current juris doctor degree'
program to offer distance learning courses or by providing a new juris doctor degree
program that provides 100% distance learning; and
4. The anticipated benefits and disadvantages of expanding and operating the current
juris doctor degree program to offer distance learning courses and of providing a new juris
doctor degree program providing 100% distance learning courses.
The University of Maine System shall submit a report detailing its findings, including any
suggested legislation, no later than November 4, 2026, to the joint standing committee of
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
ROS COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ^ to S.P. 170, L.D. 375 f^-"7
the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters. The joint standing committee
may report out a bill related to the contents of the report to the 1 33rd Legislature in 2027.'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve. The amendment requires the
University of Maine System to study the feasibility of expanding the current juris doctor
degree program at the University of Maine School of Law to offer distance learning courses
and to examine providing a new juris doctor degree program providing 100% distance
learning, The study must consider the costs of operating the current juris doctor degree
program with distance learning courses and the cost of operating a new juris doctor degree
program providing 100% distance learning courses.
The University of Maine System must submit a report with its findings, including
. suggested legislation, by November 4, 2026 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 contents of the report.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Page2-132LR0713(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 03/25/25 t-KI-
LD 375 LR 713(02)
An Act to Require the University of Maine School of Law to Provide an Online Degree Program
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "4"/<,-
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - University of Maine System
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Additional costs to the University of Maine System to conduct the required feasibility study and submit the required
report can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR0713(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1