‘Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, a supplemental budget bill enacted during the 125th Legislature redefined the calculation of the state share percentage of the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 as required by the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act to include the state contributions to teacher retirement, retired teachers' health insurance and retired teachers' life insurance; and
Whereas, the initiated legislation enacted in 2005 to implement the 2004 citizen's initiative that requires the State to provide 55% of the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 as required by the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act did not include the total state contributions to teacher retirement, retired teachers' health insurance and retired teachers' life insurance as part of the total costs of essential programs and services required under the school funding laws; and
Whereas, it is necessary to restore the standard defined and voted on by the citizens of the State in 2004 by replacing the provision that includes the total state contributions to teacher retirement, retired teachers' health insurance and retired teachers' life insurance as part of the total costs of essential programs and services required under the school funding laws before June 30, 2013; and
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,
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §15671, sub-§7, ¶C, as amended by PL 2013, c. 1, Pt. C, §2, is further amended to read:
(1) For fiscal year 2011-12, the target is 49.47%.
(2) For fiscal year 2012-13, the target is 49.35% .
(3) For fiscal year 2013-14 and succeeding years, the target is 55%.
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
General Purpose Aid for Local Schools 0308
Initiative: Provides for the additional funds necessary to achieve the statutory commitment for the State to fund 55% of the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 beginning in fiscal year 2013-14.
| GENERAL FUND | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
|
All Other
|
$153,600,000 | $152,400,000 |
 |
|
|
| GENERAL FUND TOTAL | $153,600,000 | $152,400,000 |
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’