125th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1553		LR 869(02)
	An Act To Create a Public Charter School Program in Maine
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "   "
	Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Potential current biennium revenue increase - Federal Expenditures Fund
			FY 2011-12	FY 2012-13	Projections  FY 2013-14	Projections  FY 2014-15
Appropriations/Allocations
	Federal Expenditures Fund		$0	$500	$500	$500
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill establishes a process which authorizes the establishment of charter schools in the State and provides for a 10-year transition period in which only 10 public charter schools may be approved by authorizers other than local school boards.  The requirement that all except up to 1% of state and local operating funds follow each student to the public charter school the student attends may result in a  redistribution of state and local per-pupil allocation.  The impact to individual school units can not be determined at this time.  The additional cost to the Department of Education associated with implementing this legislation can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
	This bill includes Federal Expenditures Fund allocations of $500 per year beginning in fiscal year 2012-13 to the Charter School program within the Department of Education to establish a base allocation for any federal grants that may be received by the department for the charter school program.  The amount of grants that may be received by the State can not be determined at this time.
	Additional costs to the Maine State Retirement System associated with conducting the required review of retirement plans for participating local districts can be absorbed within the system's operating budget.
	Additional costs to the Maine Labor Relations Board associated with this legislation can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.