SP0382, LD 1100, item 1, An Act To Update and Revise the Laws Governing the Maine Arts Commission

An Act To Update and Revise the Laws Governing the Maine Arts Commission

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 27 MRSA §405, as amended by PL 1991, c. 622, Pt. V, §4, is further amended to read:

§ 405. Hearings; contracts

The commission Maine Arts Commission is authorized and empowered to hold public and private hearings, to enter into contracts, within the limit of funds available, with individuals or organizations, and institutions for services furthering the educational objectives of the commission's programs; to enter into contracts, within the limit of funds available, with local and regional associations for cooperative endeavors furthering the educational objectives of the commission's programs; to establish an endowment fund; to accept gifts, contributions and bequests of funds from individuals, foundations, corporations and other organizations or institutions for the purpose of furthering the educational objectives of the commission's programs; to make and sign any agreements and to do and perform any acts that are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. Any funds, if given as an endowment, must be invested by the Treasurer of State according to the laws governing the investment of trust funds. As determined by the Director of the Maine Arts Commission, with the approval of the commission, the endowment's principal and interest may be used to further the educational objectives of the commission's programs. The commission may request and receive from any department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the State such assistance and data as necessary to carry out its powers and duties.

Sec. 2. 27 MRSA §408, as amended by PL 1989, c. 700, Pt. B, §36, is repealed.

Sec. 3. 27 MRSA §410, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 532, §1, is repealed.

Sec. 4. 27 MRSA §411, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 762, §1, is repealed.

Sec. 5. 27 MRSA §412, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 762, §1, is amended to read:

§ 412. Duties of the Maine Arts Commission

To accomplish the goals of the program, the The Maine Arts Commission shall provide leadership in developing and sustaining an agenda for arts education throughout the State in partnership with federal, state and local entities. The commission shall lead efforts to make the arts a part of the core education for all students from kindergarten to grade 12 and to increase arts opportunities outside the school setting. The commission shall:

1. Funding. Provide funding to 1/3 of the schools in the State each year on a 3-year rotating basis;

2. Professional artists. Use professional artists in developing a process for achieving learning results;

3. School systems. Invite school systems, through their superintendents, to participate in the program;

4. Goals. Work with school systems to identify common education goals;

5. Training; information; seed money. Provide training, information and seed money to each local arts education committee composed of school personnel and residents of the school district to develop a 3-year plan to increase arts education opportunities; and

6. Curriculum; projects. Promote artist residencies, professional development for teachers, curriculum development and advocacy and information projects.

7. Research. Conduct research on arts education for elementary and secondary schools; and

8. Programs. Operate arts education and outreach programs to combine the presentation of art with arts education.

summary

This bill removes language relating to the investment of the Maine Arts Commission endowment funds by the Treasurer of State and allows the Director of the Maine Arts Commission to expend endowment funds with the approval of the commission. It repeals the Maine Student Artist Awards Program, the arts outreach program and the Arts in Education Program and adds more general references to those programs in the duties of the commission. It requires the commission to conduct research on arts education in schools and operate arts education and outreach programs to combine the presentation of art with arts education. The bill also repeals several current duties of the commission.

SP0382 LD 1100	Session - 126th Maine Legislature		LR 1555 Item 1
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