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An Act To Establish the Publicly Supported Private Secondary School Advisory Council
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§13-A  is enacted to read:
13-A.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA c. 117, sub-c. 5  is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 5
PUBLICLY SUPPORTED PRIVATE Secondary SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL
§ 3061. Publicly Supported Private Secondary School Advisory Council
The Publicly Supported Private Secondary School Advisory Council is established within the department to advise the commissioner and the Legislature on matters related to the development of policies concerning the education of public tuition students at publicly supported private secondary schools. For the purposes of this subchapter, "publicly supported private secondary school" means a private secondary school approved for the receipt of funds under sections 2951 and 2955 that enrolls 60% or more publicly funded students, but does not include special purpose private schools requiring approval pursuant to the State's special education rules.
1.  Members.   The Publicly Supported Private Secondary School Advisory Council, established under Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 13-A and referred to in this subchapter as "the council," consists of the commissioner or the commissioner's designee and 7 members appointed by the Governor:
A.  Three heads of publicly supported private secondary schools nominated by a statewide association representing publicly supported private secondary schools;
B.  A trustee of a publicly supported private secondary school;
C.  An elected member of a school board for a school administrative unit served by a publicly supported private secondary school; and
D.  Two representatives of a statewide association of public school superintendents, nominated by that association, who have at least 2 years' experience working with a publicly supported private secondary school.
2.  Duties.   The council shall:
A.  Provide advice to the commissioner regarding all rules and legislation proposed by the commissioner that refer or relate to publicly supported private secondary schools;
B.  Facilitate communication among publicly supported private secondary schools, the department and school superintendents; and
C.  Meet no less than twice each year to perform its duties.
3.  Quorum.   Four members of the council constitute a quorum.
4.  Terms of office.   Except for initial appointees and the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, each member serves for a term of 3 years or until the member's successor has been appointed. Except for the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, a member may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms. In the case of a vacancy for any reason, the Governor shall appoint a member representing the same interest to fill the unexpired term.
Sec. 3. Staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 3061, subsection 4, initial appointments made to the Public Supported Private Secondary School Advisory Council are as set out in this section.
1. Of the 3 appointments made under Title 20-A, section 3061, subsection 1, paragraph A, one is for a term of one year, one for 2 years and one for 3 years.
2. The appointment made under Title 20-A, section 3061, subsection 1, paragraph B is for a term of 2 years.
3. The appointment made under Title 20-A, section 3061, subsection 1, paragraph C is for a term of one year.
4. One of the appointments made under Title 20-A, section 3061, subsection 1, paragraph D is for a term of 2 years and one is for a term of 3 years.
Effective September 20, 2007