Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §401, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, is amended to read:

1. Appointment. The state board shall consist consists of 9 members who shall be , and beginning February 1, 2003, one student member appointed by the Governor. Each appointment shall be is subject to review by the joint standing committee having jurisdiction over education and to confirmation by the Legislature.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §401, sub-§§1-A, 1-B and 1-C are enacted to read:

1-A.__Nomination of student member.__The process for nominating the student member is as follows.

A.__The state board shall notify every public high school principal by September 15th of each year that applications are being accepted for the student member's position.

B.__Applications for the student member's position must be submitted to the state board no later than October 31st of each year.

C.__A screening committee of the state board shall select 6 semifinalists for the student member's position.

D.__The state board shall, by December 31st of each year, select 3 finalists for the Governor's consideration and shall rank the finalists according to their preference.

1-B.__Term of student member.__Notwithstanding subsection 1-A, the term of office of the student member is one year.

1-C.__Qualifications for service as student member.__At the time a student member's one-year term commences, the student must:

A.__Be enrolled in good standing in a public high school in the State;

B.__Have completed 10th grade prior to the commencement of the one-year term;

C.__Have at least a B-plus average; and