An Act Regarding
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0628
Committee Amendment CA_A_H309 (House)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §257-A, 20-A MRSA §5161

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " /\." to H,P. 396, L.D, 628, "An Act Regarding
Eligibility to Apply for a Department of Education Diploma"
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
following:
'See. 1. 20-A MRSA §257-A, sub-§l-A, as amended by PL 2023, c. 171, §1, is
further amended to read:
1-A. Eligibility for students impacted by COVBD-19 pandemic. Notwithstanding
the eligibility requirements in subsection 1, a student is eligible to apply for a Department
of Education diploma if that student is a 4th year secondary school student and is unable to
satisfy the requu-ements for a diploma from a school administrative unit because the student
experienced a significant interruption to the student's education as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic and civil emergency during the student s secondary school education history,
This subsootion is ropoaled on September 1, 2026,
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §257-A, sub-§l-C is enacted to read;
1-C. Exception for disruption to student's education conditions. A student is
eligible to apply for a Department of Education diploma if that student is at least a 4th year
secondary school student and is unable to satisfy the requirements for a diplQmajrom a
school admmistrative unit because of a disruption to the student's education during the
student's secondary school education history. A disruption to the student's education may
include, but is not limited to, conditions described in section 5161, subsection 2-A.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §5161, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 2021, c, 445, §3, is
0 further amended to read:
2-A. Education disruption. "Education disruption" means disruption of the
educational program of an elementary or secondary school student as a result of;
A. Homelessness w^ foster care placement or another housing disruption;
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
ROS
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to H.P, 396, L.D. 628
B. Absence for 10 or moro oonseoutiv® school days due to placement in an interim
program more than 10% of the school days in a school year due to unforeseen
circumstances, including, but not limited to. placement in an interun program.
urrolanned hosmtalization or serious medical condition;
C. Enrollment in 3- 2 or more schools or educational programs in a single school year
during the student's secondary school education; or
D, The student's being an immigrant student or a migrant student.
"Education disruption" does not include an absence for 10 or more consecutive school days
as a result of a planned absence for a reason such as a family event or a medical absence
for a planned hospitalization or recovery or pursuant to a superintendent's determination
developed in accordance with section 5205, subsection 2.'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively,
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, makes permanent the
ability for a student to be eligible for a Department of Education diploma due to a
significant mtemiption to the student's education at any point during the student's
educational history as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The amendment also changes
the definition of "education disruption" to include any housing dismption, absence for more
than 10% of school days m a school year due to unforeseen circumstances and enrollment
in 2 or more schools durmg the student's secondary school education,
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT