An Act To Clarify the State's Initiative Involving the Federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1521
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs

Legislative Document 
No. 1521 
H.P. 1070 
House of Representatives, December 18, 2009 
An Act To Clarify the State's Initiative Involving the Federal Post-
9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 16,2009. Referred to the Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to 
Joint Rule 401. 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative CORNELL du HOUX ofBnmswick. 
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Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, Public Law 2009, chapter 443 established a waiver of the tuition charges 
remaining for veterans who are using benefits under the federal Post-9111 Veterans 
Educational Assistance Act of 2008 and who are enrolled as undergraduate students at 
any campus of the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System 
and Maine Maritime Academy; and 
Whereas, the legislative intent of Public Law 2009, chapter 443 was to establish a 
waiver of the tuition charges for eligible veterans in a manner that also provided the 
opportunity for the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System 
and Maine Maritime Academy to receive the maximum possible funding from the federal 
Department of Veterans Affairs; and 
Whereas, an unintended consequence of the provisions established by Public Law 
2009, chapter 443 is that campuses of the University of Maine System, the Maine 
Community College System and Maine Maritime Academy would receive, in some cases, 
less than the in-state tuition rates that they charge to eligible veterans enrolled as 
undergraduate students; and 
Whereas, immediate enactment of this legislation is necessary to prevent a 
significant and adverse fiscal impact for the campuses ofthe University of Maine System, 
the Maine Community College System and Maine Maritime Academy; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 20-A MRS A §10010, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 443, § 1, is amended to 
read: 
§10010. Veterans 
Regardless of the state of residence, a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United 
States using the benefits under the Post-9111 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 
2008 must receive a waiver from the tuition that remains after the application of all 
payments from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, including payments under the 
Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program in the Post-9111 Veterans 
Educational Assistance Act of 2008, and the application of other nonrepayable resources 
for which the veteran may be eligible. The amount of the tuition waiver received by a 
veteran under this section may not exceed an amount that lowers the tuition to less than 
the in-state tuition charged by the institution. This section applies to all veterans enrolled 
at any campus of the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System 
or Maine Maritime Academy in an undergraduate program of education. 
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Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill clarifies an ambiguity in the law that prevents Maine public colleges and 
universities from receiving less than the in-state tuition rate from veterans using benefits 
under the federal Post-9/1 I Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. 
The bill 
provides that the amount of the tuition waiver received by an eligible veteran may not 
exceed an amount that lowers the tuition to less than the in-state tuition charged by.the 
institution. The bill also provides that Maine public colleges and universities may apply 
other nonrepayable resources, including grants and scholarships for which the veteran 
may be eligible, toward the institution's tuition charges prior to waiving the tuition 
charges that remain.