Public Laws of 2001 as Passed at 2nd Regular Sess. of 120th Legislature

PUBLIC LAWS OF MAINE
Second Regular Session of the 120th

CHAPTER 658
S.P. 767 - L.D. 2102

An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Postsecondary Educational Attainment

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

Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-G, sub-§10-B is enacted to read:

10-B. Education

Maine Higher Educational Attainment Council

Legislative Per Diem for Legislators

20-A MRSA §10401

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA c. 406 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 406
MAINE HIGHER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT COUNCIL

§10401. Maine Higher Educational Attainment Council established

The Maine Higher Educational Attainment Council, referred to in this chapter as the "council," is established to provide a permanent voice in support of higher education, to create a statewide vision for higher educational attainment and to develop, maintain and evaluate implementation of a long-term plan for higher educational attainment in the State.

1. Membership. The council consists of 16 members. The Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall jointly appoint the following 16 members, 2 of whom must be designated to serve as cochairs of the council:

A. Twelve members collectively having a broad range of interests, including, but not limited to, higher education, kindergarten to grade 12 education, business and labor; and
B. Four members of the Legislature with a demonstrated interest in higher education.

One member of the council must be a member of a statewide association of independent colleges.

2. Appointments. Members appointed to the council serve 3-year terms except the terms of the initially appointed members must be staggered: five of the initial appointees serve for one year, 5 serve for 2 years and 6 serve for 3 years. The 2 members chosen as cochairs of the council serve for a 3-year term.

3. Quorum. Nine members of the council constitute a quorum.

4. Compensation. Members of the council are not entitled to compensation for their services, except for those members of the Legislature appointed to the council, who receive the legislative per diem.

§10402. Powers and duties

1. Develop long-term plan for increasing level of educational attainment in State. The council shall:

A. Develop and recommend a long-term plan, goals, benchmarks and alternative strategies for increasing the level of educational attainment in the State;
B. Monitor progress in accomplishing the long-term plan's vision, goals and benchmarks;
C. Develop a recommended plan of action to implement the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Postsecondary Educational Attainment established pursuant to Resolve 2001, chapter 66; and
D. Recommend changes in the long-term plan to reflect newly identified education needs within the State.

2. Council procedures. The council shall use the following guidelines when developing the long-term plan described in subsection 1.

A. The process must be continuous, with a multiyear planning horizon. It must include clear authority for monitoring and evaluating progress in evaluating the long-term plan on a regular basis.
B. The long-term plan must have a strategic focus and measurable outcomes, with clear goal-setting and performance indicators.
C. The council may appoint working groups and advisory committees as necessary, representing key concerned parties, to accomplish the goals outlined in this section.
D. The process must be statewide in scope, using available technology to ensure that all areas of the State have access to the work of the council.
E. Preparation and maintenance of the long-term plan must be through a public and private partnership approach that is objective and nonpartisan.

3. Long-term plan contents. The long-term plan developed by the council under this section must consist of:

A. A process for improving educational attainment within the State that demonstrates a shared commitment to achieving that end and a recognition that new forms of cooperation among public and private institutions of higher education, kindergarten to grade 12 education, State Government and the wider community at large are required to achieve the plan's goals;
B. A strategy for implementing the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Postsecondary Educational Attainment established pursuant to Resolve 2001, chapter 66;
C. Benchmarks for accomplishing the long-term plan that are specific and quantifiable performance indicators against which each of the goals that have been set forth to accomplish the vision can be measured;
D. Alternative strategies to accomplish the benchmarks based upon the best practices in this State, other states and other countries; and
E. A strategy for improving educational attainment that is not limited to traditional baccalaureate programs. The long-term plan must include consideration of improving the academic and career preparation of all kindergarten to grade 12 students, increasing workforce training and retraining programs, removing financial and other barriers to educational attainment and increasing the capacity of all types of postsecondary educational programs to meet the educational needs of citizens of this State.

4. Fiscal matters. The responsibility for funding the council must be shared equally between govern-ment and the private sector. The Maine Development Foundation shall serve as the council's fiscal agent, providing regular financial reports to the council on funds received and expended and an annual audit. The Maine Development Foundation shall seek funds and accept gifts to support the council's objectives.

5. Staff support. The Maine Development Foundation shall provide staff support to fulfill the requirements of this section.

6. Report. Beginning in January 2003, the council shall report annually to the Legislature and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters. The council shall report on implementation of its long-term plan and recommended changes to the long-term plan.

Sec. 3. Initial members. The initial members of the Maine Higher Educational Attainment Council established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 10401 must be appointed by September 1, 2002.

Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

MAINE DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
Maine Development Foundation

Initiative: Provides funds for the State's share of supporting the Maine Higher Educational Attainment Council.
General Fund 2001-02 2002-03
All Other $0 $40,000

MAINE DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2001-02 2002-03

GENERAL FUND $0 $40,000

____________ ____________

DEPARTMENT TOTAL -
ALL FUNDS $0 $40,000

LEGISLATURE
Legislature

Initiative: Provides funds for the per diem and expenses of legislative members serving on the Maine Higher Educational Attainment Council.
General Fund 2001-02 2002-03
Personal Services $0 $660
All Other 0 2,560