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An Act To Support Conservation and the Health and Wellness of Maine Youth through Physically Active Residential Environmental Education Programs
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA c. 333  is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 333
ENVIRONMENTAL LIVING AND LEARNING FOR MAINE STUDENTS PROGRAM
§ 9911. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
1.  Fund.     "Fund" means the Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Scholarship Fund established in section 9913.
 
2.  Program.     "Program" means the Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Program established in section 9912.
 
3.  Residential environmental education program.     "Residential environmental education program" means a program offering environmental education in a residential setting that involves students in experiential, holistic, interdisciplinary outdoor learning, including hands-on engagement, observation and discovery, problem solving, teamwork, citizenship, reflection, self-awareness, responsibility and a strong academic component by encouraging intellectual curiosity, supporting overall academic achievement, linking science to other subjects and emphasizing connections between individual and community responsibility, health, environmental issues and the economy.
 
4.  Students.     "Students" means students enrolled in grades 5 to 8 in public schools in the State.
§ 9912. Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Program
 
1.  Program established.     The Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Program is established. The department shall administer the program. The department may collaborate with nonprofit organizations that operate residential environmental education programs.
 
2.  Purposes of the program.     The program is established to:
 
A.  Support the health and wellness of students in the State by developing in the students an appreciation for recreation in the outdoors;
 
B.  Support residential environmental education program experiences for students;
 
C.  Support collaboration between nonprofit organizations that operate residential environmental education programs and public schools;
 
D.  Support hands-on science education for students and teachers; and
 
E.  Provide students with the opportunity to fulfill science and physical education proficiency standards under section 6209, subsection 2.
§ 9913. Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Scholarship Fund
The Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Scholarship Fund is established under the jurisdiction and control of the department. The department may contract with a nonprofit organization that operates a residential environmental education program to manage the fund. The fund is nonlapsing and may be invested in the same manner as permitted for investment of other state funds.
 
1.  Use of fund.     Money in the fund must be used to provide scholarships to students to attend a residential environmental education program in an amount equal to 50% of the cost of attendance at the residential environmental education program. Scholarships must be distributed to students in a manner that ensures students receiving scholarships attend residential environmental education programs across the State.
 
2.  Sources of fund.     The following must be paid into the fund:
 
A.  All money appropriated or allocated by the Legislature for inclusion in the fund;
 
B.  All interest earned from investments of the fund; and
 
C.  Any money designated for deposit into the fund from any source, public or private.
§ 9914. Rules
The department shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Scholarship Fund N183
 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds for scholarships to students to attend residential environmental education programs pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 9913.

GENERAL FUND	2015-16	2016-17	
All Other	$500,000	$500,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$500,000	$500,000	

SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Program to support residential environmental education program experiences for public school students in grades 5 to 8 in the State. It also establishes the Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships to students in the State to attend a residential environmental education program. Scholarships must be in an amount equal to 50% of the cost of attendance at a residential environmental education program and must be distributed to students in a manner that ensures students receiving scholarships attend residential environmental education programs across the State.