130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1318 LR 787(05)
An Act To Increase High School Graduation Rates for Students Experiencing Education Disruption
Fiscal Note for Bill as Engrossed with:
C "A" (S-246)
S "A" (S-363) to C "A" (S-246)
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
             
Fiscal Note
State Mandate - Exempted
FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23 Projections  FY 2023-24 Projections  FY 2024-25
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $19,110 $0 $0 $0
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $19,110 $0 $0 $0
State Mandates
Required Activity Unit Affected Local Cost
Requires a responsible school to provide every new student experiencing education disruption with an adult staff or volunteer mentor to facilitate the student's transition to the new school School Moderate statewide
Adds migrant students and immigrant students to the number of student to which a responsible school must: School Moderate statewide
1)  provide staff assistance to ensure the complete transfer of all records, grades, full and partial credits and all academic material;
2) develop or update a school work recognition plan within 10 days of the school becoming aware of the student experiencing education disruption; 
3) make individual educational materials such as curricula and assignments available within 5 days of the school becoming aware that the student is experiencing a period of absence due to education disruption; and
4) provide support for and assist any student who has experienced education disruption in the completion and submission of an application for a Department of Education diploma, if requested to do so.
Pursuant to the Mandate Preamble, the two-thirds vote of all members elected to each House exempts the State from the constitutional requirement to fund 90% of the additional costs.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The bill provides a one-time General Fund appropriation of $19,110 in fiscal year 2021-22 to the Department of Education for the costs to contract for temporary services to assist with processing the anticipated increase in the number of applications for a diploma.
To the extent that volunteer mentors are available to facilitate the transition of a new student that is experiencing education disruption to the new school, the fiscal impact to the responsible school may be mitigated.  The impact to individual school administrative units will depend on the number of students experiencing education disruption due to migrancy or immigration attending the school.