126th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1850		LR 2782(07)
	Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Strengthen the Adequacy and Equity of Certain Cost Components of the School Funding Formula
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Engrossed with: S "B" (S-504) S "C" (S-530)
	Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note
Legislative Cost/Study
Legislative Cost/Study
	The general operating expenses of this study commission are projected to be $1,500 in fiscal year 2013-14 and $3,000 in fiscal year 2014-15.  The Legislature's proposed budget includes $10,000 in fiscal year 2013-14 and $10,000 in fiscal year 2014-15 for legislative studies.  Whether the amounts are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature.  The additional costs of providing drafting assistance to the study commission can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted staff resources.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	Current law requires the Department of Education to contract with a statewide education research institute for the 1) updating of the essential programs and services components (Title 20-A, §15689-A, sub-§3) and 2) the compilation and analysis of education data (Title 20-A, §15689-A, sub-§6).  For fiscal year 2014-15,  $250,000 is currently budgeted within the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools General Fund program account for each of these contracts, for a total of $500,000.  This legislation requires that, for fiscal year 2014-15 only, the Department of Education not contract with a statewide education research institute for the purposes established in current law, but instead allows these funds to be utilized to support the work of the Commission.