2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 20-A: EDUCATION › Part 9: LEARNING TECHNOLOGY › Chapter 801: MAINE LEARNING TECHNOLOGY FUND › 20-A §19105. Commissioner's recommendation for annual learning technology plan; guidelines and funding level

§19105. Commissioner's recommendation for annual learning technology plan; guidelines and funding level
1.  Annual plan recommendation.
Prior to December 15th of each year, the commissioner, after consultation with the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services and after receiving the approval of the state board, shall recommend to the Governor and the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of the Budget the funding level for implementing the annual learning technology plan.
[PL 2013, c. 533, §17 (AMD).]
2.  Budget development.
The commissioner, with the assistance of the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services, shall prepare an annual budget for the implementation of the annual learning technology plan and exercise budgetary responsibility to carry out the plan. Annually, by January 1st, beginning on January 1, 2002, in addition to complying with the provisions of Title 5, sections 1665 and 1666, the commissioner shall present the operating budget for the fund to the Governor and the Legislature for review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs. The commissioner may make expenditures only in accordance with an allocation approved by the Legislature, and any liability or obligation may not be incurred under this chapter beyond the amount allocated by the Legislature.
[PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §6 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. TT, §1 (AMD).]
3.  Guidelines.
The recommended funding level for the annual learning technology plan must include the known obligations and estimates of the following:
A. The level of expenditure for purchases of portable computing devices or the anticipated principal and interest costs for the year of allocation for leases and other appropriate financing arrangements, including leases under which the learning technology plan may apply the lease payments to the purchase of those devices;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §6 (NEW).]
B. The level of expenditures for software and services such as technical support and education intranet services;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §6 (NEW).]
C. Funds designated by the commissioner for professional development programs and services;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §6 (NEW).]
D. Funds designated by the commissioner for the expenditures for the alternative equivalent value factor. For purposes of this paragraph, "alternative equivalent value factor" means the ratio of funding provided to school administrative units that choose to provide an alternative equivalent learning technology plan that meets the guiding principles described in section 19102, subsection 3;   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §6 (NEW).]
E. Funds designated by the commissioner for the purchase of kindergarten to grade 12 educational materials, including library databases; and   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §6 (NEW).]
F. Funds designated by the commissioner for the purpose of making adjustments to the cash flow of revenues generated from the fund.   [PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §6 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. TT, §1 (AMD).]
[PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §6 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. TT, §1 (AMD).]
4.  Funding level.
The Governor shall include in the Governor's biennial or supplemental budget submission, as applicable, an allocation from the fund necessary to implement the learning technology plan.
[PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. II, §6 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. TT, §1 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2001, c. 358, §II6 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 20, §TT1 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 533, §17 (AMD).