Title 20-A, Title 20-A

1. Rules authorized. The commissioner and the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention within the Department of Health and Human Services shall jointly issue rules necessary for the effective implementation of this subchapter, including, but not limited to,…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Certificate of immunization" means a written statement from a physician, nurse or public health official who has administered an immunizing agent …

1. Establishment. The position of school nurse consultant is established within the department. 2. Qualifications. The school nurse consultant must be licensed as a registered professional nurse in the State and have a master's degree in nursing or a related field and experience …

The school nurse consultant under section 6401‑A shall provide statewide nursing leadership, consultation and direction for coordinated school health care programs. The school nurse consultant shall: [PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. DD, §3 (NEW).] 1. Liaison. Serve as a liaison and resource…

Each school board shall appoint one or more physicians or family or pediatric nurse practitioners to act as school health advisor. [PL 2013, c. 78, §1 (AMD).] 1. Duties. The school health advisor shall advise the administrative unit on school health issues, policies and practices…

Each school board shall appoint at least one school nurse for the school administrative unit. [PL 1985, c. 258, §4 (NEW).] 1. Duties. The school nurse shall supervise and coordinate the health services and health-related activities required by this Title. 2. Other functions. The …

1. Student right to screening for sight and hearing defects. Each student must be screened periodically to determine whether the student has sight or hearing defects. 2. Commissioner's duties. The commissioner shall: A. After consultation with the Commissioner of Health and Human…

The school board shall appoint appropriate school staff to inform the parent of a student suffering from a suspected disease or defect based on the screening results.

The commissioner shall cooperate with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services in implementing a grant program developed in accordance with Title 22, section 2128 to increase the provision of oral health assessments for children entering elementary school. A child whose pare…

Sanitary facilities shall be provided as follows. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Toilets. A school administrative unit shall provide clean toilets in all school buildings, which shall be: A. Of the flush water closet type and connected to a sewer, filter bed or septic tank, …

1. Prohibition. A person may not possess a firearm on public school property or the property of an approved private school or discharge a firearm within 500 feet of public school property or the property of an approved private school. 2. Exceptions. The provisions under subsectio…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Injurious hazing" means any action or situation, including harassing behavior, that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical h…

1. Findings. All students have the right to attend public schools that are safe, secure and peaceful environments. The Legislature finds that bullying and cyberbullying have a negative effect on the school environment and student learning and well-being. These behaviors must be a…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Administrator" has the same meaning as in section 13001‑A, subsection 1. [PL 2019, c. 458, §1 (NEW).] B. "Assigned public school employee" means a…

A school resource officer shall complete diversity, equity and inclusion training or implicit bias training at least once during that officer's first year of employment as a school resource officer. For purposes of this section, "school resource officer" means a law enforcement o…

The Maine School Safety Center, referred to in this section as "the center," is established within the department to assist schools in their efforts to provide for the overall safety of their school community. The primary role of the center is to provide training, guidance and te…

The State shall comply with the following laws in consideration of the receipt of benefits under them: [PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).] 1. The National School Lunch Program Act. The National School Lunch Program Act, enacted June 4, 1946, and applicable amendments; 2. The Child …

The department shall contract for the development and implementation of an Internet-based application for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program under 7 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 210 and the School Breakfast Program under 7 Code of Federal Reg…

Public schools shall provide nonprofit school food service programs as follows. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. Participation. A public school shall participate in food service programs. A. A public school shall participate in the National School Lunch Program in accordance w…

1. Condition of schools receiving state reimbursement for school lunch and school breakfast. A public school or a private school approved for tuition purposes that receives state funding under section 6602, subsection 1, paragraph B, D, H or I shall maximize the amount of federal…

The Treasurer of State shall receive and disburse all federal funds received under this subchapter.

1. Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings: A. "Chemical health coordinator" means a person who serves as the coordinator of a local school administrative unit's chemical primary and secondary p…

1. Personnel. The commissioner shall appoint, subject to the Civil Service Law, supervisors and consultants knowledgeable about substance use. 2. Technical assistance. The department, through its supervisors and consultants, shall offer technical assistance to public and approved…

In compliance with written school policy adopted by a school board, the school board may require that a student who has been determined to be in violation of school rules governing substance use or alcohol or drug possession participate in a substance use assessment, education or…

1. List of banned substances. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall develop a list of banned performance-enhancing substances. The list must include, but is not limited to, the following: A. Ephedrine; [PL 2005, c. 674, §3 (NEW).] B. Synephrine, also known as bitter…

The department shall request assistance from a statewide organization of principals in distributing information regarding the dangers associated with performance-enhancing substances. Each school administrative unit shall review its drug and alcohol policies and update such polic…

A teacher, athletic director, sports coach or other school official or employee may not sell, distribute or promote a performance-enhancing substance on the list of banned substances developed and maintained under section 6621. A school may not accept a sponsorship from a manufac…

A student participating in interscholastic sports may not use a performance-enhancing substance on the list of banned substances developed and maintained under section 6621. A student who violates this section is subject to sanctions as determined by the governing body with statu…

1. Fund established. The Obesity and Chronic Disease Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established as an interest-bearing account administered by the department and the Department of Health and Human Services. 2. Revenue. Any private or public funds appropriated…

School administrative units may develop school-based child care services. [PL 1987, c. 767, §1 (NEW).] Private secondary schools, approved by the department in section 2951 for tuition, and whose school enrollments include at least 60% publicly funded students as determined by th…

A school administrative unit or private secondary school which provides child care services under section 6651 shall offer a one-semester course in parenting and child development to secondary school students.

The department may adopt rules governing this subchapter pursuant to the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375.

The department and the Department of Health and Human Services are authorized to provide assistance to school administrative units to assist the units in establishing school-based child care services.

The department shall work with public schools to encourage nutrition education for students and for teachers and staff as part of coordinated school health programs and school food service programs and in accordance with chapter 222. The department shall work with public schools …

1. Nutritional information. After August 31, 2008, food service programs must post caloric information for prepackaged a la carte menu items at the point-of-decision. 2. Food and beverages outside school lunch programs. The department shall adopt rules to establish standards for …

1. School Meal Equipment and Program Improvement Fund. The School Meal Equipment and Program Improvement Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established in the department to issue grants to eligible school administrative units to improve school meal equipment and …

A school administrative unit shall establish a youth mental health first aid training program for health educators in secondary schools in the unit pursuant to this section. [PL 2017, c. 269, §1 (NEW).] 1. Recipients of training. A school administrative unit shall schedule traini…

This section governs student access to and school use of food, including as a disciplinary tool, in public schools. [PL 2019, c. 54, §1 (NEW).] 1. Serving of reimbursable meals. A public school that provides free and reduced-price meals or other meals to students pursuant to subc…

The Student Homelessness Prevention Program, referred to in this section as "the program," is established within the department in the office of the department responsible for school and student supports. [PL 2025, c. 453, §1 (NEW).] 1. Purpose. The purpose of the program is to h…

The commissioner shall enforce the requirements of this Title as follows. [PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. A, §§ 24, 25 (NEW).] 1. Authority to withhold state subsidy. If, after giving due notice and an opportunity for a hearing, the commissioner finds that a school administrative unit or c…

A forfeiture under this Title may be recovered in a civil action. Unless specifically provided for, it shall be disbursed as follows. [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).] 1. School purposes. It shall be paid into the treasury of the school administrative unit where the offense occurr…

Any school officer, employee or agent who makes a written false statement on a report or document submitted to the department pursuant to this Title shall, upon conviction in a criminal proceeding, be subject to the applicable penalties in Title 17‑A.

A person who enters the property of a public or private school or another place of instruction during or out of school hours, while the teacher or student is present, and willfully interrupts or disturbs the teacher or student by loud speaking, rude or indecent behavior, signs or…

1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, "remote instruction" means instruction provided using audio or video transmission of a teacher or of a classroom with a teacher and participating students. "Remote instruction" includes real…

If a minor injures or aids in injuring a schoolhouse or school outbuildings, utensils or appurtenances; defaces the walls, benches, seats or other parts of school buildings by marks, cuts or otherwise; or injures or destroys school property belonging to a school administrative un…

A person who defaces, damages or destroys the walls, benches, seats, blackboards or other parts of a schoolhouse or school outbuildings, commits a civil offense and shall pay double the damages.