Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §15905, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, is amended to read:

3. Certificate of approval. A certificate of approval shall must be issued for each project approved by the state board within 30 days of final approval of the project by the state board. The certificate shall must bear the amount of state aid, the date that approval was certified by the state board and other stipulations or conditions. The certificate shall must be signed by the commissioner and shall be is conclusive evidence of the facts stated on it.

Sec. 5. 20-A MRSA §15905, sub-§8 is enacted to read:

8.__Time line for beginning construction.__In approving school construction projects, the state board and department shall ensure that school administrative units have made sufficient plans to begin construction of the approved project within 12 months of the establishment of maximum debt service limits pursuant to subsection 1.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes specific time frames and a time line for the State Board of Education, the Department of Education and school administrative units in the State to review and approve the necessary requirements under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 609 so that school administrative units may begin construction for certain state-supported school construction projects. The bill accomplishes the following.

1. It requires that state agencies responsible for approving plans and specifications review the required plans and specifications in a school construction application and approve or disapprove the application within 60 days of receiving it.

2. It provides that the state board, the department, school administrative units and school boards make every reasonable effort to complete the review, local vote, approval and any other requirements necessary so that construction may begin within 12 months of the Legislature's action approving maximum debt service limits.