Whereas, the Legislature has previously authorized the formation of the Appleton, Camden, Hope, Lincolnville and Rockport community school district for the purpose of assuming the operation of grades 9 to 12 in those towns; and

Whereas, the Appleton, Camden, Hope, Lincolnville and Rockport community school district, incorporated as the Five Town Community School District, will assume responsibility as the local education agency for secondary education in these towns beginning July 1, 1999; and

Whereas, the Five Town Community School District must also be designated as the local education agency for applied technology education in these towns so that a plan for reorganizing the provision of vocational education in the Knox County region can be presented to the State Board of Education for its approval; 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 §8451, sub-§2, ¶G, as amended by PL 1991, c. 518, §17, is further amended to read:

G. Region 8. KNOX COUNTY. Units located in this region include: Appleton; Hope Five Town Community School District (Appleton, Camden, Hope, Lincolnville and Rockport); Islesboro; Lincolnville; School Administrative District No. 5 (Owls Head, Rockland and South Thomaston); School Administrative District No. 7 (North Haven); School Administrative District No. 8 (Vinalhaven); School Administrative District No. 28 (Camden and Rockport); School Administrative District No. 40 (Friendship, Union, Waldoboro, Warren and Washington); and School Administrative District No. 50 (Cushing, St. George and Thomaston).

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