131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 98 LR 170(02)
An Act to Update the Special Education Laws
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
Current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Current biennium cost increase - school administrative units
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Extending the age of eligibility for special education and for participation in career and technical education courses by adults who are enrolled in special education from under 20 years of age to under 22 years of age will increase the total cost of public education from kindergarten to grade 12 and the state's share of that cost.  The fiscal impact will depend on the number of eligible students each year.  Public Law 2021, chapter 17, Part C allocates $375,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 to special education for an additional 20 students identified by the department through its student count data.  Funding for the State's share of that cost in fiscal year 2024-25 is included in the General Fund appropriation approved for the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools program in chapter 17.  Based on this information, no additional General Fund appropriations are provided in this bill.  Separate from the costs mentioned above, the department was unable to estimate a cost for the additional career and technical education students due to the student count data by age group being unavailable.