An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Stakeholder Group To Review the Maine State Grant Program
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1908
Amends: Title 20, Section 1141, Title 20, Section 1088, 20-A MRSA §11611, 20-A MRSA §11614, 20-A MRSA §11616, 20-A MRSA §11617

Legislative Document 
No. 1908 
S.P.680 
In Senate, April 4, 2012 
An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Stakeholder 
Group To Review the Maine State Grant Program 
Reported by Senator. LANGLEY of Hancock for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Resolve 2011, chapter 14, section 4. 
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JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §11611, sub-§5, as amended by PL 1991, c. 582, §1 and 
affected by §3, is further amended to read: 
5.  Institution of higher education.  "Institution of higher education" means an 
institution of higher education located within this State, within another state with which 
this State has a reciprocal agreement or within another state that permits portability.  The 
institutions shall meet that meets the requirements of and conform conforms to the 
definitions contained in the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, Section 1201, as 
amended, United States Code, Title 20, Section 1141; and the federal Higher Education 
Act of 1965, Section 491, as amended, United States Code, Title 20, Section 1088; and 
the regulations, guidelines and procedures promulgated by the Secretary of Education and 
published in the Federal Register pursuant to these sections of law. 
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §11611, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 582, §2 and 
affected by §3, is repealed. 
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §11614, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2001, c. 70, §8, is 
further amended to read: 
2.  Minimum amount.  It is the intent of the Legislature that grants awarded under 
this chapter, except as provided in subsections 4, 5 and 6, may not be less than: $1,000 
for students attending public institutions of higher education within the State; $1,250 for 
students attending private institutions of higher education within the State; $500 for 
students attending public institutions of higher education outside the State; and $1,000 for 
students attending private institutions of higher education outside the State.  Amounts less 
than the minimum amounts required by this subsection may be awarded to meet needs as 
determined under section 11613.  The authority may not grant awards of less than $200 to 
a full-time student. The authority may establish by rule increased grant amounts for 
students attending their 2nd, 3rd and 4th years, or the equivalents thereof, at institutions 
of higher education.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules 
as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §11614, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2001, c. 70, §8, is 
further amended to read: 
7.  Part-time students.  The authority may allocate up to 5% of the Maine State 
Grants grants to eligible part-time students.  The authority must establish eligibility 
criteria by rulemaking pursuant to the Maine Administrative Procedure Act. 
Sec. 5.  20-A MRSA §11614, sub-§8 is enacted to read: 
8.  Exception for certain public institutions outside the State.  The authority may 
adopt rules establishing criteria and an application process for making grant awards to 
students who wish to pursue a course of study available only at a public institution 
outside the State as part of the New England regional student program offered by the 
New England Board of Higher Education established by Title 5, section 12004-K, 
subsection 2.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as 
defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 6.  20-A MRSA §11616, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2001, c. 70, §9, is 
further amended to read: 
2.  Period of study.  An eligible full- full-time or part-time student may receive a 
grant for a period not to exceed 150% of the published length of the program in which the 
student is enrolled 10 semesters or the equivalent thereof at the institution that the student 
is attending, measured in academic years, academic terms, credit hours attempted or 
clock hours completed, as appropriate. 
Sec. 7.  20-A MRSA §11617, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3.  Decennial review.  The authority shall, by January 1, 2021, and every 10 years 
thereafter, conduct a review of the Maine State Grant Program.  The authority shall 
establish a stakeholder group, through a partnership with other appropriate entities, to 
work together on the review.  The review must include, but is not limited to, the 
following: 
A.  A review of the history and efficacy of the program and any necessary changes to 
the program; 
B.  Ideas to enhance the program in light of current and future higher education 
trends and needs; 
C.  Any recommendations on state funding for the program in light of trends in 
higher education costs and federal and private sector funding for student financial 
aid; and 
D.  Current and future grant and financial aid needs of students and families in the 
State. 
The authority shall submit a written report of the findings of the decennial review by the 
January 1st the decennial review is due, along with any proposed legislation, to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural 
affairs. 
SUMMARY 
This bill implements certain recommendations made to the Joint Standing Committee 
on Education and Cultural Affairs by the stakeholder group to review the Maine State 
Grant Program pursuant to Resolve 2011, chapter 14.  It modifies the Maine State Grant 
Program by eliminating reciprocity of the grant with other states; removes the statutory 
cap of 5% on grant awards to part-time students; removes the grant award differences 
between public and private institutions; permits the Finance Authority of Maine to 
establish by rule tiered award amounts; limits grant eligibility to 10 semesters or the 
equivalent thereof; and allows the authority to address via rulemaking certain exceptions 
to award denials. 
The bill also requires the Finance Authority of Maine to conduct a review of the 
Maine State Grant Program every 10 years.  The authority is required to submit a written 
report of the findings of the review, including any proposed legislation, to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural 
affairs.  The first decennial review is due on or before January 1, 2021. 
Approved: 04/03/12
LD 1908
LR 2767(01)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Additional costs to the Finance Authority of Maine associated with rulemaking can be absorbed within existing 
budgeted resources.
An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Stakeholder Group To Review the Maine State 
Grant Program
Fiscal Note for Original Bill
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - General Fund
LR2767(01) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1