ME LD513

School boards may permit the spouse of a school board member to serve as a stipend employee on a contractual basis when in the best interest of students, provided conflicts of interest are documented and mitigation steps are included in the contract

School boards may also permit school board members' spouses to serve as volunteers

School boards may adopt written nepotism policies covering hiring practices for stipend positions that discourage favoritism, require merit-based selection, and prioritize student interests over family association restrictions

"Stipend employee" is defined as a person receiving limited payment for advisory, mentoring, or coaching services for a school administrative unit

All provisions in the bill are set to automatically repeal on July 1, 2028