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Amend the bill by striking out all of section 17 and inserting in its place the following:
‘Sec. 17. PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §36, sub-§8  is amended to read:
8. Referendum on reorganization plan. The municipal officers of each municipality in a proposed reorganized school administrative unit shall place a warrant article substantially as follows on the ballot of a municipal referendum conducted in accordance with the referendum procedures applicable to the school administrative unit of which the municipality is a member. A referendum must be held on or before January 15, 2008 for a reorganization plan that was submitted by December 15, 2007 and that the Commissioner of Education found meets the requirements of this Part. A referendum mustmay be held on June 10, 2008 or on or before January 30, 2009 for any plan received or revised after December 15, 2007 and subsequently found by the Commissioner of Education to meet the requirements of this Part.
"Article: Do you favor approving the school administrative reorganization plan prepared by the (insert name) Reorganization Planning Committee to reorganize (insert names of affected school administrative units) into a regional school unit, with an effective date of ____________?
Yes/No"
 
The following statement must accompany the article:
"Explanation:
A "YES" vote means that you approve of the (municipality or school administrative unit) joining the proposed regional school unit, which will be provided with the following incentives:
More favorable consideration in approval and funding of school construction projects; and
Eligibility for additional financial support for reorganization costs.
A "NO" vote means that you do not approve of the (municipality or school administrative unit) joining a regional school unit, which will result in the existing (municipality or school administrative unit) receiving the following penalties:
Less favorable consideration in approval and funding of school construction projects; and
A reduction in state funding of education costs in an amount estimated to be $_______ for school year 200_ and $______ for school year 200_, with the possibility ofand possible ongoing penalties for continued failure to join an approved regional school unit. Reductions in state education funding will likely result in an increased mill rate expectation to meet the local share of education costs."
 
The Department of Education shall pay the cost of a referendum conducted before or on January 15, 200830, 2009.
’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment restores the requirement that an explanation accompany the warrant article for the referendum on the reorganization plan, except that the estimate for the penalty for failing to join an approved regional school unit is removed from the explanation.