128th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1531 LR 696(01)
An Act To Amend Education Statutes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
Sponsor: Sen. Langley of Hancock
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
FY 2017-18 FY 2018-19 Projections  FY 2019-20 Projections  FY 2020-21
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $250,000 $700,000 $700,000 $700,000
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $250,000 $700,000 $700,000 $700,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill includes General Fund appropriations totaling $250,000 in fiscal year 2017-18 and $700,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 to the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools program within the Department of Education.  Of those amounts, $250,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2017-18 and fiscal year 2018-19 for exploratory programs to benefit students of science, technology, computer science, engineering and math.  Additionally, $450,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 is appropriated for autism identification and intervention services.  Funding for the pilot programs is also included in LD 390, the Governor's proposed budget for the 2018-2019 biennium at $250,000 for both fiscal year 2017-18 and 2018-19 and funding of $500,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 is included for autism identification and intervention services.  
The fiscal impacts of other proposals in this legislation, including using the same funding methodology for the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, Transportation and Engineering as the methodology established for public charter schools that are authorized by the Maine Charter School Commission; eliminating the declining enrollment adjustment in the calculation of essential program and services; and repealing the authority of the Commissioner of Education to spend and disburse funds for school improvement and support, implementation of performance evaluation and professional growth systems and learning results implementation, assessment and accountability are also reflected in the calculation of the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 and the State's contribution to that cost proposed in the Governor's 2018-2019 biennial budget.  The estimated fiscal impact of this legislation may need to be adjusted based on final legislative actions on the biennial budget.