An Act To Exempt School Administrative District No. 24 and School Administrative District No. 32 from the Laws Requiring School Administrative Unit Consolidation

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 103-A requires the reorganization of school administrative units into regional state-approved units of administration; and

Whereas,  the requirements are not practical for School Administrative District No. 24 and School Administrative District No. 32 due to geographic isolation; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. Exemption from school administrative unit reorganization requirements. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 103-A and Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX, as amended, School Administrative District No. 24, serving the municipalities of Hamlin, Van Buren and Cyr Plantation, and School Administrative District No. 32, serving the municipalities of Ashland, Garfield Plantation, Masardis, Oxbow Plantation and Portage Lake, are not required to join with other school administrative units to form new regional school units or alternative organizational structures.

In administering the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 103-A and for the purposes of implementing Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX, section 36, as amended, the Commissioner of Education shall consider School Administrative District No. 24 and School Administrative District No. 32 to be geographically isolated and shall provide an exemption from and accommodations to Title 20-A, chapter 103-A similar to those provided to coastal islands.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill exempts School Administrative District No. 24 and School Administrative District No. 32 from the requirements for reorganization into larger regional school units or alternative organizational structures. The Commissioner of Education is required to treat School Administrative District No. 24 and School Administrative District No. 32 in a manner similar to the treatment of coastal islands.