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An Act To Strengthen Maritime Education by Amending the Laws Governing the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, Transportation and Engineering
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §8232, first ¶, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 363, §4, is amended to read:
The school is established as a public, residential school located in the Town of Searsport and the following provisions apply.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §8232, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. C, §13, is further amended to read:
 
2. Tuition; room and board; funding.  StudentsA student from this State may attend the school free of tuition charges. Additional funding for students from this State may be provided within amounts appropriated for that purpose as follows.
 
A. State funding for the school must be provided using the method established for public charter schools that are authorized by the commission in accordance with the funding provisions established in section 2413-A and section 15683-B. To be eligible for state funding under this paragraph, a student must have resided in Maine with a parent, other relative or guardian for at least 6 months immediately preceding application to the school.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §8235, sub-§16, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 363, §4, is amended to read:
 
16. Report.   To report annually to the Governor, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs on the results of the assessment in subsection 15 and the general status of the school and to provide a financial audit of the school conducted by an independent auditor;. The report under this subsection must include, at a minimum, assessments for:
 
A.  Student academic proficiency;
 
B.  Student academic growth;
 
C.  Achievement gaps in both proficiency and growth between major student subgroups;
 
D.  Attendance;
 
E.  Recurrent enrollment from year to year;
 
F.  Postsecondary readiness;
 
G.  Financial performance and sustainability;
 
H.  Board of trustees performance and stewardship; and
 
I.  Parent and community engagement;
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §8238, as amended by PL 2019, c. 531, §1, is further amended to read:
§ 8238.Implementation; limited authorization
The school may implement the plan established for the statewide education programs pursuant to section 8236, subsection 2 during the 2017-2018 school year.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all powers, duties and authority of the school under this chapter and under any other law terminate 90 days after the adjournment of the Second Regular Session of the 129th130th Legislature.
Sec. 5. Plan for school's future to be included in 2019-2020 annual report. The Board of Trustees of the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology, Transportation and Engineering shall include in the annual report required under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 8235, subsection 16, for the 2019-2020 academic year, a plan for the school's future based on an exploration of practicable organizational structures for the school.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, Second Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.