1.__Petition procedure.__By written petition filed with the superintendent, the registered voters of a school administrative unit may request that one or more rules, ordinances or other statements of school board policy or part or parts thereof, except for rules, ordinances or other statements of school board policy or part or parts thereof that pertain to staffing or salary matters, any other personnel matters or any budgetary matters, approved by the school board but not then in effect, be referred to the voters of the school administrative unit for their approval.__The petition must be accompanied by a number of signatures of registered voters at least equal to 10% of the total number of votes for Governor cast in the school administrative unit at the last gubernatorial election preceding the filing of the petition.__The effect of any rule, ordinance or other statement of school board policy or part or parts thereof that are the subject of a petition under this section must be suspended by the school board upon the filing of a valid petition and may not take effect until 30 days after the municipal officers of the school administrative unit have announced by public proclamation that the same have been ratified by a majority of the votes cast.

2.__Referral to electors.__As soon as any rule, ordinance or other statement of school board policy or part or parts thereof have been suspended by petition as provided in subsection 1, the municipal officers of the school administrative unit by public proclamation shall give notice of the petition and of the time when the measure is to be voted on.__The vote must be at the next statewide election or at a special election called by the municipal officers if there is no statewide election within 6 months of receipt of the petition.

3. Not applicable to budgets.__This section does not apply to school budgets including, but not limited to, a school budget subject to the provisions of section 1304, 1305, 1305- A, 1305-B, 1701, 1701-A or 1701-B.

SUMMARY

This bill provides for a direct initiative and people's veto process for school policies and rules, except those that pertain to staffing or salary matters, any other personnel matters or any budgetary matters, to be exercised by the voters of any school administrative unit. The processes established are similar to those available under the Constitution of Maine for initiation and veto of legislation by the voters of the State.