Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §6209, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

3.__Rulemaking.__The commissioner shall adopt or amend rules to implement this section.__Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined by Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.__On or before September 1, 2003, the commissioner shall adopt rules to incorporate Maine Native American history and culture into the standards and performance indicators of the 8 content standard subject areas that comprise the system.__In adopting these rules, the commissioner shall amend the standards and performance indicators in the content standard subject areas of social studies under the headings of civics and government, history, geography and economics that address the following topics:

A.__Maine tribal governments and political systems, and their relationship with local, state, national and international governments;

B.__Maine Native American cultural systems and the experience of Maine tribal people throughout history;

C.__Maine Native American territories; and

D.__Maine Native American economic systems.

Sec. 4. Commission established. The Commission to Study the Inclusion of Maine Native American History and Culture in Maine's System of Learning Results, referred to in this section as the "commission," is established to assist school administrative units and educators in the exploration of a wide range of curricular programs and options that include Maine Native American history and culture in a manner that is consistent with the guiding principles of the system of learning results established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6209. The curricular programs and options must be developed so that the inclusion of Maine Native American history and culture coincides with the full implementation of the system of learning results for the 2002-03 school year.

1. Membership. The commission consists of the following 7 members:

A. Four members representing the tribal chiefs and governors of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseets and the Aroostook Band of Micmacs or the tribal chiefs' or governors' designees;

B. The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee;

C. The Chair of the State Board of Education or the chair's designee; and

D. The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the chancellor's designee.

No later than 30 days following the effective date of this Act, the Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. The Commissioner of Education shall select a chair from among the commission members prior to the first commission meeting.

2. Duties. The commission shall report to the Commissioner of Education for implementation of its findings on:

A. Curricular programs and options that are appropriate to assist school administrative units and educators in the State to include Maine Native American history and culture into the system of learning results; and

B. The necessary professional development, training and technical assistance that must be provided to assist school administrative units and educators in the State in implementing Maine Native American history and culture into the system of learning results.

3. Staff assistance and budget. The Department of Education shall provide staffing assistance and research services to the commission. The department may elect to provide members of the commission with per diem and expenses for their participation in commission meetings.

4. Implementation. The recommendations of the commission must be submitted to the Commissioner of Education no later than June 1, 2003 and must be implemented no later than September 1, 2003.

SUMMARY

This bill requires that Maine Native American history and culture be taught in all elementary and secondary schools and requires the Department of Education to include Maine Native American history and culture in the system of learning results. This bill establishes a commission to investigate and recommend how the Department of Education will accomplish this task.