Joint Study Order Establishing a Work Group To Plan the Transition to Funding Fifty-five Percent of Education Costs and One Hundred Percent of Special Education Costs as Mandated by the Voters at Referendum

ORDERED, the House concurring, that the Work Group To Plan the Transition to Funding 55 Percent of Education Costs and 100 Percent of Special Education Costs is established as follows.

1. Work Group To Plan the Transition to Funding 55 Percent of Education Costs and 100 Percent of Special Education Costs established. The Work Group To Plan the Transition to Funding 55 Percent of Education Costs and 100 Percent of Special Education Costs, referred to in this order as "the work group," is established.

2. Membership. The work group consists of the following members:

3. Chairs. The first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the work group.

4. Appointments; convening of work group. All appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the passage of this order. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the work group. If 30 days or more after the passage of this order a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the work group to meet and conduct its business.

5. Duties. The work group shall plan the transition over a 4-year period to state funding of 55% of education costs and 100% of special education costs as required by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, sections 15752 and 15753 and mandated by the voters at referendum.

6. Staff assistance. The Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the work group.

7. Report. No later than December 2, 2015, the work group shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs, the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation and the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs.