Sec. D-68. Sharing of total costs in school administrative districts and community school districts; Department of Education review. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15688, subsection 2 and to ensure that member municipalities of school administrative districts and community school districts whose cost-sharing formulas were established in accordance with Title 20-A, sections 1301 and 1704, respectively, do not experience significant adverse effects as a result of the cost-sharing mechanism established pursuant to Title 20-A, section 15688, subsection 2, the Department of Education shall conduct a review and analysis, for each school administrative unit, of the implications of this proposed cost-sharing mechanism on the member municipalities of these school administrative districts and community school districts. The Department of Education shall assist the member municipalities of these school districts in developing transition plans that include a phase-in to achieve the new method of determining member municipalities' local cost of education in accordance with Title 20-A, section 15688, subsection 2 no later than fiscal year 2008-09. The Department of Education shall report the findings of this review, including any recommended legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by March 31, 2005. The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs is authorized to introduce a bill related to the Department of Education report to the First Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature.

Sec. D-69. Method of cost sharing; exception. Beginning in fiscal year 2005-06, the provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20- A, section 15688, subsection 2 do not apply in determining the local cost of education of member municipalities in Maine School Administrative Districts No. 6 and No. 44. The cost-sharing formulas established between the member municipalities in these 2 school administrative districts prior to January 1, 2005 remain in effect until the formulas are changed pursuant to Title 20-A, section 1301, subsection 3. Pursuant to section 68, all other school administrative districts and community school districts whose cost-sharing formulas were established in accordance with