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Amend the amendment in Part XXXX in section 13 in §1481 in the first paragraph in the 3rd line (page 771, line 18 in amendment) by inserting after the following: "purposes." the following: 'A regional school unit has authority over the raising of funds and the expending of funds.'
Amend the amendment in Part XXXX in section 13 in §1481 in subsection 1 in the 2nd line (page 771, line 26 in amendment) by inserting after the following: "chapter" the following: '. Nothing in this section may be construed to require that such an agreement be modified solely as a result of the reorganization of a school administrative unit to a regional school unit'
Amend the amendment in Part XXXX in section 13 in §1486 in subsection 3 in paragraph G in subparagraph (1) in the 3rd and 4th lines (page 775, lines 19 and 20 in amendment) by striking out the following: "and that includes locally raised funds that exceed the required local contribution as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act"
Amend the amendment in Part XXXX in section 13 in §1486 in subsection 3 in paragraph G by striking out all of the last 3 lines (page 775, lines 21 to 23 in amendment) and inserting the following:
‘
Yes No"
’
Amend the amendment in Part XXXX in section 13 in §1491 in subsection 1 in the first line (page 779, line 37 in amendment) by inserting after the following: "for" the following: 'purposes including but not limited to'
Amend the amendment in Part XXXX in section 29 in subsection 3-A in paragraph B in the first line (page 791, line 31 in amendment) by striking out the following: "ForExcept as provided in paragraph B-1, for" and inserting the following: 'For'
Amend the amendment in Part XXXX in section 29 in subsection 3-A by striking out all of paragraph B-1 (page 791, lines 38 to 40 and page 792, lines 1 to 4 in amendment)
Amend the amendment in Part XXXX in section 35 in subsection 6 in paragraph F in subparagraph (1) in the last line (page 797, line 11 in amendment) by striking out the following: "2007-08; and" and inserting '2007-08.'
Amend the amendment in Part XXXX in section 35 in subsection 6 in paragraph F by striking out all of subparagraph (2) (page 797, lines 12 to 15 in amendment)
Amend the amendment in Part XXXX by inserting after section 46 the following:
‘Sec. XXXX-47. Budget referenda; implementing legislation. No later than January 31, 2008, the Commissioner of Education shall submit to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs proposed legislation authorizing regional school unit boards to conduct necessary budget referenda on the municipal level.’
Amend the amendment by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment accomplishes the following:
1. It specifies that a regional school unit has authority over the raising of funds and the expending of funds;
2. It specifies that an existing cost-sharing agreement need not be modified solely because the school administrative unit is reorganized into a regional school unit;
3. It removes language from the referendum question to be presented to voters voting on a school budget that exceeds maximum state and local spending targets;
4. It removes limitations on the purposes for which a regional school unit may establish a reserve fund;
5. It removes language specifying that, for a regional school unit, if the contribution is less than 2 mills multiplied by the property fiscal capacity of the municipality, the municipality's contribution is an amount equal to 2 mills multiplied by the property fiscal capacity of the municipality;
6. It removes language directing that for fiscal year 2008-09, the projected expenditures of the reorganized school unit for system administration must be more than the legislatively approved rate; and
7. It directs the Commissioner of Education to submit to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs proposed legislation authorizing regional school unit boards to conduct necessary budget referenda on the municipal level.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)