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Amend the amendment in Part C by striking out all of sections 3 to 5.
Amend the amendment in Part C by striking out all of sections 17 to 21 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. C-17. Calculation. The Commissioner of Education shall, within 30 days of the effective date of this Part, calculate the mill expectation pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15671-A for fiscal year 2008-09 and the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 for fiscal year 2008-09 in accordance with this Part. The commissioner shall submit the information to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs.
Sec. C-18. Transfer of funds from Maine Budget Stabilization Fund. Pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 142, the State Controller shall transfer $37,266,122 by June 30, 2009 from the Maine Budget Stabilization Fund to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund.
Sec. C-19. Limit of State's obligation. If the State's continued obligation for any individual component contained in this Part exceeds the level of funding provided for that component, any unexpended balances occurring in other programs may be applied to avoid proration of payments for any individual component. Any unexpended balances from the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15671-A, subsection 2, paragraph B may not lapse but must be carried forward for the same purpose.
Sec. C-20. Authorization of payments. This Part may not be construed to require the State to provide payments that exceed the appropriation of funds for general purpose aid for local schools for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009.’
Amend the amendment in Part C by inserting after section 22 the following:
‘Sec. C-23. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
 
General Purpose Aid for Local Schools 0308
 
Initiative: Appropriates funding for the state share of General Purpose Aid for Local Schools and restores the State's contribution to 55% of 100% of Essential Programs and Services.

GENERAL FUND	2007-08	2008-09	
All Other	$0	$37,266,112	
 	  	  	
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$37,266,112	
 
’
Amend the amendment by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment restores cuts in funding for general purpose aid for local schools and directs that the funding to restore the cuts be transferred from the Maine Budget Stabilization Fund.
 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)