Sec. 4. Legislative duties. In carrying out its duties under this Act, the Legislature and its joint standing committees shall act to provide substantial property tax relief statewide in a manner that is sustained over time, reduce unnecessary spending, provide tax reform, avoid adding to the overall tax burden of citizens of this State and coordinate those efforts among the school administrative units and local and regional governments.

1. State tax revenue. As soon as possible, but no later than March 1, 2004, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over taxation matters shall report out revenue-neutral legislation designed in accordance with the intentions of this Act to generate the additional revenue necessary to provide adequate funding for public education from kindergarten to grade 12 pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 606-C. The legislation may not defeat the intent of this Act by reducing, freezing, eliminating or otherwise restricting the state revenues, appropriations or reimbursements that historically have been provided to or shared with municipalities, including without limitation: state-municipal revenue sharing established in Title 30-A, chapter 223, subchapter 2; property tax homestead exemption reimbursement established in Title 36, chapter 105, subchapter 4-B; the County Jail Prisoner Support and Community Corrections Fund established in Title 34-A, section 1210-A; the tree growth tax reimbursement program established in Title 36, section 578; the general assistance reimbursement program established in Title 22, section 4311; and the Rural Road Initiative and Urban Compact Initiative established in Title 23, section 1803-B.

2. Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Educational Services. As soon as possible, but no later than March 1, 2004, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters shall report out legislation designed in accordance with the intentions of this Act to govern the design, implementation, management and oversight of the Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Educational Services established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15684.