Sec. 6. 20-A MRSA §15613, sub-§13, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 848, §10, is amended to read:

13. Minimum state allocation. Effective 1988-89, each school administrative unit shall be is guaranteed a minimum state share of its total allocation that is determined by multiplying 5% of the foundation per pupil operating rate by the average number of resident kindergarten to grade 12 pupils, including special education tuition pupils, in the unit on April 1st and October 1st of the calendar year immediately prior to the year of allocation. These funds shall must be included as part of the school unit's total allocation as computed under this chapter and not as an adjustment to the unit's total allocation. This subsection is repealed July 1, 2005.

Sec. 7. 20-A MRSA §15671, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 660, §1, is amended to read:

1. State and local partnership. The State and each local school administrative unit are jointly responsible for contributing to the cost of the components of essential programs and services described in this chapter. The state contribution to the cost of the components of essential programs and services, exclusive of federal funds that are provided and accounted for in the cost of the components of essential programs and services, must be made in accordance with this subsection:

A. The level of the state share of funding attributable to the cost of the components of essential programs and services must be at least 50% of eligible state and local General Fund education costs statewide, no later than fiscal year 2007-08; and

B. By fiscal year 2009-10 the state share of the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12, as described by essential programs and services, must be 55%.__Beginning in fiscal year 2003-04 2005-06 and in each fiscal year until fiscal year 2007-08 2009-10, the level of the state share of funding attributable to the cost of the components of essential programs and services described costs must increase toward the 50% 55% level of eligible state and local General Fund education costs required in fiscal year 2009-10.

Beginning in fiscal year 2003-04 2005-06 and in each fiscal year thereafter, the commissioner shall use the funding level determined in accordance with this section as the basis for a