127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1386 LR 745(02)
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing High School Graduation Requirements
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
State Mandate - Unfunded
Current biennium cost increase - General Fund
State Mandates
Required Activity Unit Affected Local Cost
Requires school administrative units to include a plan for transitioning to a blended system of graduation requirements in their comprehensive plans and requires school boards to adopt policies to phase-in the blended system of graduation requirements  by the 2016-2017 school year. School Significant statewide
The required local activities in this bill may represent a State mandate pursuant to the Constitution of Maine.  Unless General Fund appropriations are provided to fund at least 90% of the additional costs or a Mandate Preamble is amended to the bill and two-thirds of the members of each House vote to exempt this mandate from the funding requirement, municipalities may not be required to implement these changes.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The Department of Education has indicated that it does not have the resources available to support local school administrative units with the transition to a blended system of graduation requirements.  The ability of the department to implement the requirements of this legislation without impacting other programs and services it already provides can not be determined at this time.