Whereas, this legislation changes the method of achieving necessary reductions in the number of directors of school administrative districts; and

Whereas, it is essential that this improved method be applied as soon as possible

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §1255, sub-§10, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

B.__If the approved plan requires a reduction of the number of directors to be elected in a municipality, the reduction must be achieved in accordance with this paragraph.

(1)__If possible, the reduction must be achieved by the voluntary resignation of one or more of the directors.

(2)__If the reduction can not be achieved in accordance with subparagraph (1) and the plan is approved and filed less than 30 days prior to the annual municipal election, the number of open positions to be filled by the election process must be reduced to the number required by the approved plan.

(3)__If the reduction can not be achieved in accordance with subparagraph (1) or (2), or a combination of the 2, all of the remaining existing directors representing the municipality shall choose by lot which directors' terms must terminate.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

Under current law, if a school administrative district