2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 20-A: EDUCATION › Part 7: SCHOOL FINANCE › Chapter 609: SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION › 20-A §15901. Definitions

§15901. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
1.  Concept approval.
"Concept approval" means the initial approval of a school construction project by the state board which indicates:
A. Acknowledgment of the local need;   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
B. Approval of the preliminary design;   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
C. Approval of estimated costs; and   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
D. The state board's intent to issue design and funding approval subject to a favorable local vote and approval of final cost estimates.   [PL 2013, c. 167, Pt. B, §2 (AMD).]
[PL 2013, c. 167, Pt. B, §2 (AMD).]
1-A.  Design and funding approval.
"Design and funding approval" means approval by the state board indicating that a school construction project's drawings and specifications have been developed to 100% completion, the project has gained the recommendations of the department and the school administrative unit is authorized to seek bids for the work.
[PL 2013, c. 167, Pt. B, §3 (NEW).]
2.  Maintenance of plant.
"Maintenance of plant" means those activities concerned with keeping the grounds, buildings and equipment at their original condition of completeness or efficiency either through repairs or by replacement of property.
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
3.  Major capital cost.
"Major capital cost" means school construction projects and may include the cost for equipment approved under a school construction project.
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
4.  School construction project.
"School construction project" means:
A. On-site additions to existing schools;   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
B. New schools;   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
C. The cost of land acquired in conjunction with projects otherwise defined by this subsection;   [PL 1983, c. 612 (AMD).]
D. The building of or acquisition of other facilities related to the operation of school administrative units;   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
E. The complete restoration of existing school buildings in lieu of replacement when in the judgment of the commissioner the action is in the best interest of the State and local unit; and   [PL 1983, c. 613 (RPR).]
F. Off-site construction only if, in the judgment of the commissioner, it is economically in the best interests of the State or there is no other practical way to complete a project.   [PL 2005, c. 683, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
"School construction project" does not mean the purchase, lease-purchase or construction of portable temporary classroom space, as defined in section 15672, subsection 21‑B, the lease-purchase of bus garage and maintenance facilities or a permanent space lease-purchase project as defined in section 15901, subsection 4-B.
[PL 2005, c. 683, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
4-A.  Small scale school construction project.
"Small scale school construction project" means a project that will not be eligible for state subsidy and is limited to:
A. New buildings not exceeding 600 square feet in gross area to be utilized solely for storage or custodial work, or both; or   [PL 1985, c. 248, §2 (NEW).]
B. On-site additions to existing school buildings not exceeding 600 square feet in gross area.   [PL 1985, c. 248, §2 (NEW).]
"Small scale school construction project" does not mean the purchase, lease-purchase or construction of portable temporary classroom space, as defined in section 15672, subsection 21‑B, or the lease-purchase of bus garage and maintenance facilities.
[PL 2005, c. 683, Pt. B, §13 (AMD).]
4-B.  Permanent space lease-purchase project.
"Permanent space lease-purchase project" means the lease-purchase of permanent administrative space or permanent small nonadministrative or instructional space whose costs are wholly or partially eligible as debt service costs for subsidy purposes under section 15672, subsection 2‑A, paragraph B, subparagraph (1) or subparagraph (3). "Permanent space lease-purchase project" does not mean the purchase, lease-purchase or construction of portable temporary classroom space, as defined in section 15672, subsection 21-B, or the lease-purchase of bus garage and maintenance facilities.
[PL 2005, c. 683, Pt. B, §14 (AMD).]
5.  Total cost of school construction projects.
"Total costs of school construction projects" means all costs related to or incidental to the project, except financing costs and proceeds from insured losses.
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]
6.  School administrative unit.
"School administrative unit" means a school administrative unit as defined by section 1, subsection 26 and a career and technical education region as defined by section 8301-A, subsection 6, except that in section 15907, the reference to "unit" or "school administrative unit" means a unit within a career and technical education region.
[RR 1991, c. 2, §71 (COR); PL 2003, c. 545, §5 (REV).]
7.  School board.
"School board" means a school board as defined in section 1, subsection 28 and the cooperative board of a career and technical education region.
[RR 1991, c. 2, §71 (COR); PL 2003, c. 545, §5 (REV).]
8.  Superintendent.
"Superintendent" means a superintendent as defined by section 1, subsection 39, and the director of a career and technical education region, if that person had been appointed to serve as administrative officer of the region, or the superintendent who has been appointed to serve as ex officio administrative officer.
[RR 1991, c. 2, §71 (COR); PL 2003, c. 545, §5 (REV).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1981, c. 693, §§5,8 (NEW). PL 1983, c. 612 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 613 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 248, §2 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 98, §5 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 466, §§5,6 (AMD). RR 1991, c. 2, §71 (COR). PL 1991, c. 268, §§5,6 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 81, §§6,7 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 545, §5 (REV). PL 2005, c. 683, §§B12-14 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 167, Pt. B, §§2, 3 (AMD).