An Act To Facilitate the Use of State Education Subsidies

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the changes made by this legislation could affect budget meetings of regional school units and town budgets; and

Whereas,  it is necessary that this legislation take effect prior to the expiration of the 90-day period to allow towns to benefit from the legislation during the next annual budget process; 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 §1485, sub-§5  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §1486, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 2009, c. 571, Pt. QQQ, §2, is further amended to read:

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill authorizes a regional school unit to include an article in the warrant for its annual budget meeting providing that, in the event that the regional school unit receives more state education subsidy than the amount included in its budget, the regional school unit board is authorized to increase expenditures for school purposes in cost center categories approved by the regional school unit board, without a special budget meeting and budget validation referendum.