10.__Compensation.__Legislative members of the advisory group are entitled to receive the legislative per diem as defined in Title 3, section 2 and reimbursement for expenses according to Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 75-D.__Public members not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities that they represent are entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses incurred for their attendance at authorized meetings of the advisory group.

Sec. 3. Report on strategies to deal with rising fixed costs for schools and school administrative units. The Educational Efficiency Advisory Group established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 2221 shall undertake a study of rising costs over which local school administrative units and municipalities have little direct control, including, but not limited to:

1. Employee health insurance and other costs related to employee benefits;

2. Worker's compensation and other employee-related costs;

3. Liability and other insurance-related costs;

4. Fuel and other energy-related costs;

5. Maintenance and other facility-related costs;

6. The system of learning results as established in Title 20- A, section 6209 and local assessment and other costs related to state mandates; and

7. The costs associated with the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, special education and other federal mandates.

The Educational Efficiency Advisory Group shall prepare and submit a report by March 1, 2006 to the Second Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature containing its findings and recommendations with regard to strategies for controlling the costs specified in subsections 1 to 7.

Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

LEGISLATURE