Maine Revised Statutes Title 20-A. Education § 15915-A. Telecommunications service agreements

1. Service agreements. The governing bodies of school administrative units and career and technical education regions are authorized to enter into agreements for not more than 10 years with private entities such as telecommunications service providers to purchase telecommunications services, including services for interactive audio and visual communication and transmission of data for educational purposes.

2. Interlocal agreements. The governing bodies of school administrative units and career and technical education regions are authorized to enter into interlocal agreements in accordance with Title 30-A, chapter 115 and may organize or cause to be organized joint boards and legal entities including public nonprofit corporations under Title 13, chapter 81 and Title 13-B to purchase telecommunications services and to acquire customer premise telecommunications, as defined by the Public Utilities Commission, and related technology equipment.

3. Legal and tax status. The interlocal agreement must provide for appointment or election of each member of a joint board or governing body of a legal entity formed under this section by the governing body of one or more of the constituent members of the interlocal agreement. The joint board or governing body of the legal entity formed may purchase telecommunications services and acquire, purchase, lease and lease-purchase customer premise telecommunications and related technology equipment on behalf of the constituent members of the interlocal agreement. Customer premise telecommunications and related technology equipment acquired by the joint board or governing board of the legal entity formed are deemed to be public school property for all purposes. A lease-purchase agreement for customer premise telecommunications and related technology equipment constitutes a proper public purpose and the interest or interest component of income derived from the lease-purchase agreement is exempt from taxation in this State. The net earnings of the joint board or governing body of the legal entity formed may not inure to the benefit of any private person. If the joint board or legal entity formed is dissolved, the distribution of all property owned by the joint board or legal entity formed must be determined by the joint board or governing body of the legal entity formed and may not inure to the benefit of any private person.