Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §3252, sub-§4, as repealed and replaced by PL 1985, c. 490, §3, is amended to read:
4. Tuition. The commissioner shall pay tuition for each tuition student in at 110% of the amount approved as the receiving administrative unit's official tuition cost pursuant to section 5804 or 7302 in an amount agreed upon between the commissioner and the school board of the unit. The commissioner shall compute the tuition paid for each tuition student and shall allocate the tuition costs to the property owners from the unorganized unit where the tuition student resides.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §3253-A, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1985, c. 603, §1 and PL 2005, c. 397, Pt. D, §3, is further amended to read:
3. Tuition. The Notwithstanding sections 5805, 5806 and 5809, the commissioner shall pay tuition for each tuition student in an amount equal to the official tuition rate approved pursuant to sections 5805, 5806, 5809 or 7302 for the receiving school for nonresident students enrolled in secondary schools or special education or career and technical education programs, provided that 110% of the state average per public secondary student cost as adjusted pursuant to section 5805, subsection 1, as long as the student maintains a satisfactory standard of deportment and scholarship. The commissioner shall pay tuition for each tuition student in an amount equal to the official tuition rate approved pursuant to section 7302 for the receiving school for nonresident students enrolled in special education programs, as long as the student maintains a satisfactory standard of deportment and scholarship. The commissioner shall compute the tuition paid for each tuition student and shall allocate the tuition costs to the property owners from the unorganized unit where the tuition student resides.
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Revenue Services - Bureau of 0002
Initiative: Provides one-time funds for the modification of the assessing and billing system software in the unorganized territory section of the Property Tax Division within the Bureau of Revenue Services in order to assess and collect the specific tuition costs in each of the townships that have one or more tuition students from the unorganized territories.
| GENERAL FUND |
2007-08 |
2008-09 |
|
All Other
|
$50,000 |
$0 |
|
 |
|
| GENERAL FUND TOTAL |
$50,000 |
$0 |
| ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF |
|
|
| DEPARTMENT TOTALS |
2007-08 |
2008-09 |
|
|
|
|
GENERAL FUND
|
$50,000 |
$0 |
|
|
|
| DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS |
$50,000 |
$0 |
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Education in Unorganized Territory 0220
Initiative: Provides funds for the increase in the maximum allowable tuition rates authorized to pay to receiving school administrative units on behalf of tuition students from the unorganized territories.
| GENERAL FUND |
2007-08 |
2008-09 |
|
All Other
|
$723,953 |
$760,150 |
|
|
|
| GENERAL FUND TOTAL |
$723,953 |
$760,150 |
| EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF |
|
|
| DEPARTMENT TOTALS |
2007-08 |
2008-09 |
|
|
|
|
GENERAL FUND
|
$723,953 |
$760,150 |
|
|
|
| DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS |
$723,953 |
$760,150 |
| SECTION TOTALS |
2007-08 |
2008-09 |
|
|
|
|
GENERAL FUND
|
$773,953 |
$760,150 |
|
|
|
| SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS |
$773,953 |
$760,150 |
’
This amendment is the minority report of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. The amendment changes the maximum allowable tuition rates that the Commissioner of Education is authorized to pay to receiving school administrative units on behalf of tuition students from the unorganized territories. The amendment accomplishes the following.
1. It requires the Commissioner of Education to pay up to 110% of the receiving school administrative unit's established tuition rate for each elementary school student who is a tuition student from the unorganized territories.
2. It requires the Commissioner of Education to pay up to 110% of the state average per public secondary student cost as adjusted pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 5801, subsection 1 for each secondary school student who is a tuition student from the unorganized territories.
3. It requires the Commissioner of Education to compute the tuition paid for each tuition student and allocate the tuition costs to the property owners from the unorganized unit where the tuition student resides.
The amendment provides the necessary appropriations and allocations.