Resolve, Establishing a Task Force To Study the Creation of a Comprehensive Career and Technical Education System and Increased Crosswalks for Academic Credit between Secondary Schools and Career and Technical Education Programs

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 Task Force To Study the Creation of a Comprehensive Career and Technical Education System is established pursuant to this legislation to study the feasibility of establishing a comprehensive 4-year high school career and technical education program to provide a technical high school setting for students; and

Whereas,  the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative session; 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, be it

Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: That the Task Force To Study the Creation of a Comprehensive Career and Technical Education System, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," is established.

Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the task force consists of 16 members as follows:

1. Four members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:

2. Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows:

3. Five members appointed by the Governor as follows:

4. The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee.

Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the task force.

Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of task force. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the task force. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the task force to meet and conduct its business.

Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall:

1. Examine the feasibility of establishing a comprehensive 4-year high school career and technical education program to provide a technical high school setting for middle school students to attend at the completion of the 8th grade, including but not limited to the advantages and disadvantages of a comprehensive 4-year high school career and technical education model, obstacles to implementation of a comprehensive 4-year high school career and technical education model and other models for comprehensive 4-year high school career and technical education that exist around the State and on a national level; and

2. Examine increasing crosswalks and intersections between technical and occupational knowledge and curricula and academic standards in order to promote multiple pathways for awarding content area credit to students enrolled in career and technical education programs, including but not limited to building on prior and current work among the Department of Education, superintendents of school administrative units and career and technical education administrators.

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force, except that Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session.

Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 4, 2019, the task force shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.

Sec. 8. Outside funding. Resolved: That the task force shall seek funding contributions to fully fund the costs of the task force. All funding is subject to approval by the Legislative Council in accordance with its policies. If sufficient contributions to fund the task force have not been received within 30 days after the effective date of this resolve, no meetings are authorized and no expenses of any kind may be incurred or reimbursed.

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