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PUBLIC LAWS OF MAINE
First Regular Session of the 121st

CHAPTER 181
S.P. 83 - L.D. 160

An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Home Instruction

     Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

     Whereas, parents and guardians who intend to provide equivalent instruction through a home instruction program for their children in the 2003-2004 school year will need sufficient time to prepare their plans for providing a home instruction program prior to the start of the upcoming school year; and

     Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

     Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §5001-A, sub-§3, ¶A, as amended by PL 1991, c. 602, §1 and affected by §4 and affected by PL 1995, c. 610, §2, is further amended to read:

     Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §5021, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 610, §1, is amended to read:

     A school administrative unit shall conform to the following standards in making public school resources and services available to a student enrolled in an equivalent instruction program approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 5001-A, subsection 3, paragraph A, subparagraph (3) a home instruction program under section 5001-A, subsection 3, paragraph A, subparagraph (4) for a student otherwise eligible to attend school in that school administrative unit.

     Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §6001, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 595, §2, is amended to read:

     1. Federal and state law. The provisions of this section, the United States Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, Public Law 93-380, as amended by Public Law 93-568, and the United States Education of All Handicapped Children Act, Public Law 94-142 govern the dissemination of information about students, as well as applications for written notices of intent to provide equivalent instruction through home instruction, comments on the completeness of those applications and all education records of students receiving equivalent instruction through home instruction.

     Sec. 4. Application. Notwithstanding Department of Education rules to the contrary, pending adoption of rules implementing this Act, beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, the Commissioner of Education shall implement the provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 5001-A, subsection 3, paragraph A in excusing a child from attendance at a public day school if a parent or guardian of the child who intends to provide equivalent instruction through a home instruction program for the child complies with the provisions of Title 20-A, section 5001-A, subsection 3, paragraph A, subparagraph (4).

     Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

Effective May 16, 2003.

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