129th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1216		LR 1208(03)
	An Act To Support Community Schools
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Engrossed with: C "A" (S-128)
	Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note
Potential future biennium cost increase - General Fund Potential current biennium cost increase - Federal Expenditures Fund Potential current biennium revenue increase - Federal Expenditures Fund
			FY 2019-20	FY 2020-21	Projections  FY 2021-22	Projections  FY 2022-23
Appropriations/Allocations
	Federal Expenditures Fund		$500	$500	$500	$500
Revenue
	Federal Expenditures Fund		$500	$500	$500	$500
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	Public Law 2015, chapter 267, Part GGG authorized the Department of Education to designate 3 community schools as part of a 5-year pilot program beginning in the 2016-2017 school year and provided a General Fund appropriation of $150,000 in fiscal year 2016-17 to support the pilot program.  General Fund support for the pilot program has been included in the funding for the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools (GPA) program in fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19 and is included in LD 1001, the proposed budget for the 2020-2021 biennium.
	This legislation makes the community school pilot project permanent and increases the number of schools that may be designated as a community school for the 2020-2021 school year from 3 to 5 and allows for an additional 10 beginning in the 2021-2022 school year.  It also requires the department to apply for available federal funds to support the implementation and expansion of community schools.  This bill includes Federal Expenditures Fund base allocations of $500 per year, beginning in fiscal year 2020-21 to a newly created Community Schools Program account within the department to allow expenditure of any federal funds that may be awarded.
	If sufficient federal funds are not received to support the full cost of the community schools program, support may be required through future General Fund appropriations or as part of future funding appropriated for GPA.  Funding allocated for community schools within GPA in future biennia will impact the distribution of state subsidy to local school administrative units.
	Finally, this bill continues the department's authority to employ a state community school coordinator to implement the program.  The department has never filled this position and is uncertain whether additional staff will be needed for this purpose.  If the need becomes evident, the department will submit a budget request.