For the purposes of the mandatory appropriation required by this section, and in accordance with the essential programs and services school funding allocation system established in chapter 606-B, the commissioner shall identify and provide in the commissioner's recommendation pursuant to section 15689-C 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 associated with the commissioner's recommendation.__In addition to any appropriations required by section 15689-E, the Legislature shall appropriate and ensure the accurate distribution of the total amount identified by the commissioner, adjusted by the federal reimbursements for the costs of special education services mandated by federal or state law, rule or regulation that will be provided to the individual school administrative units for that same school year.

§15754.__Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Educational Services

The Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Educational Services, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established.

Two percent of the funds annually appropriated pursuant to this chapter must be dedicated to the fund and distributed from the fund to those school administrative units and municipalities that can demonstrate significant and sustainable savings in the cost of delivering educational services through changes in governance, administrative structure or adopted policy that result in the creation of consolidated school administrative units, broad-based purchasing alliances, enhanced regional delivery of educational services or collaborative school- municipal service delivery or service support systems.

§15755.__Entitlement

The State's school administrative units and municipalities are entitled to the appropriations required by this chapter.

Sec. D-58. 30-A MRSA §6006-F, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 787, §13, is amended to read:

6. Forgiveness of principal payments. The fund must provide direct grants by forgiving the principal payments of a loan for an eligible school administrative unit. The amount of the forgiveness of principal payments must be determined by the school administrative unit's state share percentage of debt