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An Act To Exempt School Union No. 60 from the Laws Requiring School Administrative Unit Consolidation
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 103-A requires the reorganization of school administrative units into regional state-approved units of administration; and
Whereas,  the requirement for a minimum number of students is impractical for School Union No. 60 due to geographic isolation; 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,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. Exemption from school regionalization requirements. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 103-A and Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX as amended by Public Law 2007, chapter 668, School Union No. 60, serving Beaver Cove, Greenville, Kingsbury Plantation, Shirley and Willimantic, is not required to join other towns to form a regional school unit with a student population exceeding 1,200.
In administering the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 103-A and for the purposes of implementing Public Law 2007, chapter 240, Part XXXX, section 36 as amended by Public Law 2007, chapter 668, the Commissioner of Education shall consider Beaver Cove, Greenville, Kingsbury Plantation, Shirley and Willimantic together to be geographically isolated and provide to those communities exemptions from and accommodations to Title 20-A, chapter 103-A similar to those provided to coastal islands.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill exempts Beaver Cove, Greenville, Kingsbury Plantation, Shirley and Willimantic from minimum student enrollments established in statute for regional school units. The Commissioner of Education is required to treat the communities in a manner similar to the treatment of coastal islands.