An Act To Clarify Expenditures Regarding Androscoggin County
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, in Public Law 2015, chapter 267, the so-called biennial budget, the education funding formula law was amended to require the Commissioner of Education to disburse $75,000 over each of the fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17 for postsecondary education attainment in Androscoggin County; and
Whereas, the intent of the Legislature, as stated in the budget's summary, was to provide this funding to College for ME - Androscoggin as had been done in fiscal year 2013-14; and
Whereas, the Commissioner of Education has not disbursed the funds since the intended recipient was not specifically named; and
Whereas, this legislation provides clarity by specifically naming College for ME - Androscoggin as the recipient of funding to allow for the disbursement of funds before the end of this fiscal year; 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,
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §15689-A, sub-§24, as amended by PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. C, §14, is repealed.
Sec. 2. Payment of funds in fiscal year 2015-16 to College for ME - Androscoggin. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Controller shall pay $75,000 to College for ME - Androscoggin no later than June 30, 2016 from funds appropriated to the All Other line category in the Department of Education, General Purpose Aid for Local Schools Program General Fund account in fiscal year 2015-16 to support individuals aspiring to attend college and support postsecondary degree attainment initiatives in Androscoggin County.
Sec. 3. Payment of funds in fiscal year 2016-17 to College for ME - Androscoggin. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Controller shall pay $75,000 to College for ME - Androscoggin no later than June 30, 2017 from funds appropriated to the All Other line category in the Department of Education, General Purpose Aid for Local Schools Program General Fund account in fiscal year 2016-17 to support individuals aspiring to attend college and support postsecondary degree initiatives in Androscoggin County.
Sec. 4. Retroactivity. That section of this Act that repeals the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15689-A, subsection 24 applies retroactively to June 30, 2015.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
Public Law 2015, chapter 267 amended the education funding formula statute to require the Commissioner of Education to disburse $75,000 over each of the fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17 for postsecondary education attainment in Androscoggin County; the intent of this disbursement was to provide funding to College for ME - Androscoggin to provide financial assistance for individuals in Androscoggin County who wanted to attend college or obtain a postsecondary degree. Because College for ME - Androscoggin was not specifically named in the amended statute, the funds were not disbursed.
This bill repeals the statute requiring the Commissioner of Education to disburse the funds and instead requires the State Controller to disburse $75,000 to College for ME - Androscoggin in each of the fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17. The funds are appropriated from the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools Program General Fund account to be used to support individuals aspiring to attend college and support postsecondary degree attainment initiatives in Androscoggin County.