‘Resolve, To Provide One-time Funding for the Maine School and Library Network’
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. Stakeholder group. Resolved: That the Maine State Library shall convene a stakeholder group to examine the funding of the Maine School and Library Network, a service of Networkmaine within the University of Maine System, through the telecommunications education access fund and determine if there are feasible alternatives to funding that do not involve surcharges or fees as currently assessed in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 7104-B. Stakeholders must include at a minimum at least one representative of the Public Utilities Commission, the Office of the Public Advocate, voice network service providers providing service in the State and any other entities identified by the Public Utilities Commission that contribute to the telecommunications education access fund as described in Title 35-A, section 7104-B. The group shall submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology that includes recommendations and any suggested legislation by January 15, 2018. The committee may report out legislation based on the report; and be it further
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.
LIBRARY, MAINE STATE
Maine School and Library Network N241
Initiative: Provides one-time funds to support the Maine School and Library Network.
| GENERAL FUND | 2017-18 | 2018-19 |
|
All Other
|
$630,000 | $0 |
 |
|
|
| GENERAL FUND TOTAL | $630,000 | $0 |
SUMMARY
This amendment is the minority report of the committee, and it replaces the bill. It provides a one-time appropriation to the Maine State Library to support the Maine School and Library Network, a service of Networkmaine within the University of Maine System. It also directs the Maine State Library to convene a stakeholder group to look at alternatives to funding the Maine School and Library Network that do not involve surcharges or fees. This amendment requires the stakeholder group to submit a report of its findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology by January 15, 2018.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)