APPROVED CHAPTER
APRIL 7, 2022 565
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO
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H.P. 1023 - L.D. 1389
An Act To Improve Maritime Education in Maine
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §8238, 2nd ¶, as amended by PL 2019, c. 655, §4, is further
amended to read:
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 First Regular Session of the 130th 131st Legislature.
Sec. 2. Transition of the Maine School for Marine Science, Technology,
Transportation and Engineering to an educational program-based model;
report. Notwithstanding its establishment as a public magnet school pursuant to the
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 312-A, the Maine School for Marine Science,
Technology, Transportation and Engineering, referred to in this section as “the Maine
Ocean School,” shall transition from a public magnet school to an educational program-
based model focused on marine-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics
no later than 90 days after the adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 131st
Legislature. In order to provide for this transition, the Maine Ocean School shall:
1. Develop a new funding model that will support the program;
2. Develop a new supervisory model for the program, which may include agreements
to join Regional School Unit 20 or another educational partner as a program instead of a
diploma-granting educational institution. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the
contrary, the Maine Ocean School is authorized to make and sign any agreements necessary
to assist in the transition to this new supervisory model;
3. Design the program to operate regionally and accept students at the program’s
physical location and through remote, virtual or distance-based learning for students
attending from the local region and throughout the State; and
4. Endeavor to identify potential grant funding for which the program may be eligible
and any other funding to support the new program from federal and private sources.
Page 1 - 130LR0826(03)
 The Maine Ocean School shall submit a report, no later than January 15, 2023, to the
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural
affairs on the progress toward the transition to the program-based model, including
suggested legislation necessary to finalize the transition. The committee may report out
legislation related to the Maine Ocean School to the 131st Legislature in 2023.
Page 2 - 130LR0826(03)


Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1389, HP 1023: 20-A.8238, 20-A.15683
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 565: 20-A.8238