An Act To Repeal the Repeal Provision in the Law That Limits the Reduction of State Subsidy for Education

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

Whereas,  continuing budgetary conditions limit the ability of state and local governments to fund the full cost of the components of essential programs and services as required under the school funding laws; and

Whereas,  a provision of law will be repealed June 30, 2013 that protects a school administrative unit from a reduction of state subsidy if the unit raises less than the percentage of the total cost of essential programs and services required under the school funding laws as long as the unit raises at least the same percentage of the local share as the State raises of the State's share; and

Whereas,  it is necessary to continue this protection provided to school administrative units by repealing the repeal provision before June 30, 2013; 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. 20-A MRSA §15690, sub-§1, ¶D,  as amended by PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. C, §12, is further amended to read:

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

SUMMARY

This bill repeals the repeal provision in the law that exempts a school administrative unit from a reduction in its state subsidy for failure to raise its required local contribution to the total cost of funding public education if the unit raises the same percentage of the local contribution as the State raises of the state contribution.