121st Maine Legislature
		Office of Fiscal and Program Review
		LD 1679
		An Act To Reimburse School Districts for Children in Group Care Facilities
		LR 2542(01)
		Fiscal Note for Original Bill
		Sponsor: Sen. Hall of Lincoln
		Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
		Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Undetermined current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This legislation will have a fiscal impact on the Department of Education and school administrative units beginning in fiscal year 2004-05.  The total amount can not be determined at this time and will depend on additional information currently being collected by the Department.  That information includes the number of non-special education State Wards and State Agency Clients, the school administrative unit that they reside, and if they are tuitioned to another school administrative unit or private school.
	The State currently provides 100% of the unit's actual special education costs for approximately 1,350 special education State Wards and State Agency Clients.  The additional cost to the State to provide for 100% of the local share of the foundation allocation for these students could range from $5.2 million to $7.4 million depending on whether or not these special education State Wards and State Agency Clients were tuitioned to another school administrative unit or private school.  The cost for the non-special education State Wards and State Agency Clients can not be determined at this time.
	This legislation may result in a redistribution of funds to the General Purpose Aid for Local School program which would result in some school administrative units receiving more State subsidy and some units receiving less State subsidy.
	School administrative units may be required to provide additional student information to the Department of Education as a result of this legislation which may result in a State mandate.  The Department of Education may also incur additional costs associated with reprogramming its student information system.