Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §1002, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 128, §2, is further amended to read:

2. Employment by school administrative unit, school union, academy. A member of a school board or spouse of a member may not be an employee in a public school within the jurisdiction of the school board to which the member is elected or in a contract high school or academy located within a supervisory union in which the member is a representative on the union committee, except that a member of a school board or spouse of a member may be employed as a substitute teacher in such a school if the principal of the school determines there is no other qualified substitute teacher available.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §1002, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 128, §3, is amended to read:

2-A. Volunteer placement by school administrative unit, school union, academy. A member of a school board or member's spouse may not serve as a volunteer when that volunteer has primary responsibility for a curricular, cocurricular or extracurricular program or activity and reports directly to the superintendent, principal, athletic director or other school administrator in a public school within the jurisdiction of the school board to which the member is elected or in a contract high school or academy located within a supervisory union in which the member is a representative on the school committee. Volunteer, unless volunteer activities of a member of a school board or member's spouse, other than in roles that are prohibited by this subsection, may be prescribed are authorized by policies developed and approved by the school board of the school administrative unit.

SUMMARY

Current law prohibits school board members or their spouses from being employed by or volunteering in schools within the jurisdiction of the school board to which the member is elected. This bill allows a member of a school board or the spouse of a member to substitute teach if no other qualified substitute teacher is available and allows volunteering in other capacities if authorized by school board policy.