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An Act To Include Student Representation on the State Board of Education
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
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 consistconsists of 9 members who shall beand, beginning February 1, 2008, one student member, all of whom are appointed by the Governor. Each appointment shall beis subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters and to confirmation by the Legislature.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §401, sub-§1-A  is enacted to read:
 
1-A.  Nomination of student member.     The student member of the state board serves for a term of 2 years pursuant to subsection 1-B and is nominated in odd-numbered years as follows.
 
A.   The state board shall notify every public high school principal by September 15th of the year in which 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 the year in which applications are being accepted.
 
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 the year in which applications are being accepted, select 3 finalists for the Governor's consideration and shall rank the finalists according to its preference.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §401, sub-§1-B  is enacted to read:
 
1-B.  Term of student member.     Notwithstanding subsection 4, the term of office of the student member of the state board is 2 years.
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §401, sub-§1-C  is enacted to read:
 
1-C.  Qualifications for service as student member.     At the time a student member of the state board's 2-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 2-year term;
 
C.   Have at least a B-plus average; and
 
D.   Provide at least 3 references from teachers in the school that the student attends.
 
SUMMARY
This bill expands the membership of the State Board of Education to include one student member.