Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA c. 606-C is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 606-C

SCHOOL FINANCE ACT OF 2003

§15681.__Short title

This chapter may be known and cited as the "School Finance Act of 2003."

§15682.__Mandated legislative appropriations for kindergarten

to grade 12 education

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Legislature each year shall provide at least 55% of the cost of the total allocation for kindergarten to grade 12 education from General Fund revenue sources.

For the purpose of this chapter, and until such time as the Legislature may implement an alternative school funding system, "total allocation" means the foundation allocation for a year, the debt service allocation for that year, the sum of all adjustments for that year and the total of the additional local appropriations for the prior year.__In the event the Legislature implements an alternative school funding model that alters the meaning of the terms used in this Title or otherwise makes obsolete the system of allocations and local appropriations established by this Title, the term "total allocation" as it applies to the mandatory appropriation required by this section means the amount reasonably calculated as the equivalent of this definition.

§15683.__Mandated legislative appropriations for special education

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Legislature shall provide 100% of the state and local cost of providing all special education services mandated under federal or state law, rule or regulation.

For the purposes of the mandatory appropriation required by this section, the commissioner shall identify and provide in the commissioner's recommendation pursuant to section 15605 the total costs to the individual school administrative units associated with providing all special education services mandated under federal or state law, rule or regulation for the school year concluding on the previous June 30th.__In addition to any appropriations required by section 15607, the Legislature shall