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

10-B. Maine Higher Legislative 20-A MRSA

Education Educational Per Diem §10401

Attainment for

Council Legislators

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

I.CHAPTER 406

MAINE HIGHER EDUCATIONAL

A.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.