Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §7031, as corrected by RR 1991, c. 2, §10, is amended by inserting after the 3rd paragraph a new paragraph to read:

It is in the public interest and is the policy of the State of Maine to foster and encourage an educational leave program to permit employees of the State to increase knowledge and skills and to improve work techniques and procedures. This would permit the agencies themselves and the citizens of Maine to benefit by what the employee has learned and will impart to others upon return.

Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§11, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 786, §5, is repealed.

FISCAL NOTE

Any future savings from abolishing the Educational Leave Advisory Board and the Educational Leave Scholarship Fund will be insignificant. The board does not incur expenses and has never met but did review one application last year that was circulated to each member and eventually approved. The scholarship fund does not have a cash balance.

SUMMARY

This bill terminates the Educational Leave Advisory Board. It retains language that declares the educational leave program for state employees to be in the public interest.