CONSOLIDATION BILL DRAFT
30 May 2007
Annotated Table of Contents (Dick Atlee)
[Note: the sections referred to as having been AMENDED or deleted come from "20-A MRSA" (http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach0sec0.html or specific sections below);
"$" is used here in place of the standard "section" symbol to avoid computer differences]
PART A (there appears to be no PART B)
Modification of Definitions in previous school legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec1.html )
Sec. A-1 $1 sub$20-A: Previous education unit ...................................................................................... 1
Sec. A-2 $1 sub$23-B: Publicly supported secondary school .................................................................. 1
Sec. A-3 $1 sub$24-B: Regional school unit (abbrev below as RSU)...................................................... 1
Sec. A-4 $1 sub$24-C: RSU board........................................................................................................ 1
Sec. A-5 $1 sub$26: School administrative unit (abbrev below as SAU) -- AMENDED.......................... 1
Modification of previous School Administrative District (SAD) legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach103sec0.html)
Sec. A-6 $1201 (criteria for establishing an SAD) -- REPEALED............................................................ 1
Sec. A-7 $1202 (formation of district) -- REPEALED............................................................................. 1
Sec. A-8 $1203 (issuance of a certificate of organization) -- REPEALED................................................. 2
Sec. A-9 $1204 (transfer of property and assets) -- REPEALED............................................................. 2
Sec. A-10 $1205 (operational data and transfer of authority) -- REPEALED........................................... 2
Sec. A-11 $1305-C: Mandatory budget validation and cost summary budget form................................... 2
Sec. A-12 ch103 subch 6 (various types of reorganization) -- REPEALED.............................................. 2
Sec. A-13 ch 103-A: Chapter 103-A Regional School Units................................................................ 2
Subchapter 1: General Provisions....................................................................................................... 2
$1451. RSUs (list bill's accomplishments).............................................................................................. 2
$1452. Application of general law......................................................................................................... 3
$1453. Status of RSU (equivalent of an SAD re: state Constitution)....................................................... 3
$1454. Rules (state can adopt)............................................................................................................. 3
Subchapter 2: Organization [this is included as an "attachment" to the draft]
$1461. Formation of a regional school unit ......................................................................................... 51
1. Notice of intent............................................................................................................................ 51
2. Reorganization planning committee............................................................................................... 51
3. Submission of plans (content, parameters).................................................................................... 51
4. Review and approval of plans...................................................................................................... 52
5. Referendum on reorganization plans (incl. ballot wording)............................................................. 52
6. Results of referendum (what constitutes approval)......................................................................... 53
7. Certificate of organization............................................................................................................. 53
8. Transfer of property and assets.................................................................................................... 53
9. Operational date and transfer of authority..................................................................................... 54
A. Operational date (RSU board)................................................................................................. 54
B. Transfer of governing authority.................................................................................................. 54
C. Transfer of school accounts...................................................................................................... 54
D. Transfer of teachers and employees.......................................................................................... 54
E. Collective bargaining ............................................................................................................... 54
G. Superintendent contracts (item "F" apparently missing).............................................................. 57
$1462. Addition of a SAU to existing RSU......................................................................................... 57
Subchapter 3: School Governance: Program......................................................................................... 4
$1471. RSU board (size, term, compensation, superintend=secy/treas, oath, elect officers).................. 4
$1472. Methods of apportionment
(subdistrict representation, weighted votes, at-large voting, other)........................................... 5
$1473. Election.................................................................................................................................... 6
$1474. Vacancies................................................................................................................................. 7
$1475. Reapportionment (by commissioner if complaints, set up committee).......................................... 8
$1476. Powers and duties of RSU board............................................................................................ 10
$1477. Quorum.................................................................................................................................. 12
$1478. Local school committees (optional creations of RSU board).................................................... 12
$1479. Program (choice, tuition contracts & expenses)....................................................................... 12
Subchapter 4: Financing..................................................................................................................... 13
$1481. Finances (agreements between parties; can't prevent RSU)...................................................... 13
$1482. Budget preparation................................................................................................................. 14
$1483. RSU budget: budget formats................................................................................................... 14
$1484. Checklist required (of voters at an RSU budge meeting).......................................................... 14
$1485. Cost center summary budget format (08-09)
(incl RSU savings/mill-reduction, approval at RSU budget meeting & referendum).................. 15
$1486. Budget validation referendum (incl. ballot wording).................................................................. 16
$1487. Failure to pass budget............................................................................................................. 18
$1488. Special budget meeting........................................................................................................... 18
$1489. RSU assessments................................................................................................................... 18
$1490. Power to borrow money (approved by voters, cap)................................................................ 19
$1491. Reserve fund.......................................................................................................................... 20
$1492. Bid procedure........................................................................................................................ 20
$1493. Void contracts........................................................................................................................ 23
Subchapter 5: Referendum................................................................................................................ 23
$1501. RSU referendum..................................................................................................................... 23
$1502. Method of calling a RSU referendum (incl. wording)................................................................ 23
$1503. Referendum procedures.......................................................................................................... 25
$1504. Reconsideration (circumstances for new referendum)............................................................... 26
$1505. (RSU) Bonds; notes; other...................................................................................................... 27
$1506. Debt liability (original units keep debt unless RSU takes it)....................................................... 27
Subchapter 6: Schools........................................................................................................................ 29
$1511. Supermajority vote to close school in the RSU........................................................................ 29
$1512. Closing school (referendum w/savings explicit on ballot)........................................................... 30
Modification of previous Community School District legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach105sec0.html)
Sec A-14. $1602: Formation -- REPEALED......................................................................................... 31
Sec A-15. $1604: Transition to new district -- REPEALED................................................................... 31
Sec A-16. $1701-C:. Mandatory budget validation & cost center summary budget form......................... 31
Sec A-17. $1751: Additions to, dissolution of and withdrawal from a district -- REPEALED.................. 31
Modification of previous School Union legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach107sec0.html)
Sec A-18. $1901: Formation -- REPEALED............................................................................................ 31
Modification of previous Union Schools legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec2101.html)
Sec A-19. $2101 sub-$1: Establishment -- REPEALED........................................................................ 31
Sec A-20. $2101 sub-$2: Approval -- REPEALED.............................................................................. 31
Modification of previous Municipal Schools legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach111sec0.html)
Sec A-21. $2307. School budgets (post-2008 also follow above requires).......................................... 31
Sec A-22: Chapter 114: Regional collaboration.................................................................................. 31
$2601. Definitions................................................................................................................................. 31
$2602. Development of collaborative agreements................................................................................... 32
$2603. Collaborative agreements between previous education units........................................................ 32
Modification of previous school closings legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach202sec0.html)
Sec. A-23 $4102 Voter approval required for school closing -- AMENDED......................................... 32
Modifications of previous Essential Programs and Services (EPS) legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach606-Bsec0.html)
Sec. A-24 $15680 sub$1 par.A: Per-pupil system admin expenses formula -- AMENDED ................... 32
Sec. A-25. $15680 sub$1 par.B: (08-09: 5% redux in per-pupil operating exps -- AMENDED ........... 33
Sec. A-26 $15681-A sub$2-A: (5% special ed) Reduction for 08-09.................................................... 33
Sec. A-27 $15681-A sub$3-A: (5% transportation) Reduction for 08-09.............................................. 33
Sec. A-28 $15688 sub$2: Town share of cost based on pupil count -- AMENDED .............................. 33
Sec. A-29 $15688 sub$30A: Commissioner determines contribs of town, RSU, and state..................... 34
Sec. A-30 $15689-D: Governor's recommendations for funding levels -- AMENDED .......................... 34
Sec. A-31 $15690 sub$1 par B: Warrant wording for required contribution -- AMENDED .................. 35
Sec. A-32 $15691-A: Municipal assessment paid to a RSU................................................................... 35
Sec. A-33 $15696. Penalties for nonconforming school administrative units............................................ 36
Modification of School Finance Act of 2003
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach608sec0.html)
Sec. A-34 $15755: Entitlement (of SAUs and municipalities to appropriations) -- REPEALED............... 36
Modification of previous school construction voting legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec15904.html)
Sec. A-35 $15904 sub$3-A: RSU (votes in accord w/Ch. 103-A above).............................................. 36
Sec. A-36 Legislative intent and policy................................................................................................ 36
1. Commissioner calls meetings in CTE regions to present info on consolidation....................................... 37
2. SAU notice of intent to develop reorganization plan w/others (8/31/07, response 9/15)....................... 37
3. Reorganization planning committee..................................................................................................... 38
4. Submission of reorganization plan (12/1/07)....................................................................................... 38
5. Content of reorganization plan............................................................................................................ 38
6. Parameters........................................................................................................................................ 39
7. Review & approval (or not) of reorganization plan............................................................................. 40
8. Referendum on reorganization plan (incl. ballot wording; DOE pays if before 1/15/08)........................ 40
9. Results of referendum........................................................................................................................ 41
10. Certificate of organization................................................................................................................. 41
11. Result of disapproval at 1/08 referendum.......................................................................................... 41
12, Reformulation of SAD as RSU (final no later than 7/1/09)................................................................. 42
Additional Department of Education powers/responsibilities
Sec. A-37 Role of the DOE (incl. adjusting EPS rates)........................................................................... 42
Sec. A-38 Notification of allocation of funding to SAU's......................................................................... 42
Sec. A-39 Adjustment for RSU start-up costs........................................................................................ 43
Miscellaneous Regional School Unit info
Sec. A-40 Initial staggered terms (RSU board)...................................................................................... 43
Sec. A-41 Transfer of property and assets: RSUs approved before 1/16/08........................................... 43
Sec. A-42 Trainsfer of property and assets: RSUs approved after 1/15/08 (timeline 1 yr later)................ 44
Sec. A-43 Operational date and transfer of authority.......................................................................... 44
1. Operational date (RSU board)........................................................................................................... 44
2. Transfer of governing authority: RSU's approved before 1/16/08........................................................ 44
3. Transfer of governing authority: RSU's approved after 1/15/08........................................................... 45
4. Transfer of school accounts................................................................................................................ 45
5. Transfer of teachers and employees.................................................................................................... 45
6. Collective bargaining.......................................................................................................................... 46
7. Superintendent contracts.................................................................................................................... 49
Further additional Department of Education powers/responsibilities
Sec. A-44 State board rules; construction rating process........................................................................ 49
Sec. A-45 Department to conduct review (of unfunded mandates).......................................................... 49
Sec. A-46 Report; validation referendum review
(DOE suggest changes after analyzing first 3 years)............................................................... 49
Sec. A-47 Report; additional necessary implementing legislation (DOE suggests).................................... 50
DRAFT ATTACHMENT (included above at intended attachment point on p. 3................................ 51-57
Summary of Key Points of Proposed Administrative Consolidation Legislation............................... 58
State Policy for Effective and Efficient School Units................................................................................ 59
Process................................................................................................................................................. 59
School Unit Size and Number................................................................................................................ 59
Reorganization and Cost Reduction Plans............................................................................................... 59
Finance Impact; Penalties....................................................................................................................... 60
Schools and School Choice................................................................................................................... 60
Teachers and Other School Employees.................................................................................................. 60
School Governance; Budget Transparency............................................................................................. 60
Other Provisions.................................................................................................................................... 60