An Act To Increase College AffordabiIity and the Rate of Degree Completion
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1703
Committee Amendment CA_A_S489 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 668, L.D. 1703, Bill, "An Act To 
Increase College AffordabiIity and the Rate of Degree Completion" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Increase College Affordability and the 
Rate of Degree Completion' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the Task Force To Increase College Affordability and the Rate of Degree 
Completion, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: That the task force consists of 16 
members appointed as follows: 
1. Three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including 
members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature; 
2. Four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats 
in the Legislature; 
3. 
The President of the Maine Community College System or the president's 
designee; 
4. The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the chancellor's designee; 
5. The President of the Maine Maritime Academy or the president's designee; 
6. Three members chosen by the President of the Senate from nominees supplied by 
the Maine Independent Colleges Association; 
7. Two members from organizations with experience administering student loans, 
one appointed by the President of the Senate and one by the Speaker of the House; and 
8. The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee; and be it further 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 668, L.D. 1703 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the task 
force; and be it further 
Sec. 4. 
Appointments; convening of task force. 
Resolved: 
That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the task force. If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority 
for the task force to meet and conduct its business; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall meet 5 times. The task force 
shall study issues associated with college affordability and degree completion and 
develop a 10-year statewide economic and policy strategy. The methods the task force 
shall consider include, but are not limited to, the following: 
I. A scholarship at the University of Maine for the 2nd year of attendance provided to 
students who agree to work in the State for a certain period of time following graduation; 
2. Tuition guarantees that ensure that students will pay the same tuition for 2 or 4 
years while attending one of the State's institutions of higher education; and 
3. Simplifying and transitioning from the provision of tax credits for higher education 
to the greater provision of state grants and other forms of financial aid for higher 
education; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council sha11 provide 
necessary staffing services to the task force; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than January 31, 2015, the task force 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, for presentation to the First Regular Session of the 127th Legislature. The 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters 
may submit a bill related to this report to the First Regular Session of the 127th 
Legislature.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft, with a resolve to establish 
the Task Force To Increase College Affordability and the Rate of Degree Completion. 
The task force is directed to study and make recommendations on issues associated with 
college affordability and degree completion and develop a 10-year statewide economic 
and policy strategy. The task force is required to submit a report by January 31, 2015 to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education 
matters. The report submitted by the task force must include findings, recommendations 
and any suggested legislation. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over education matters may submit a bill related to this report to the First 
Regular Session of the 127th Legislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(~eeattached ) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
" 
Approved: 04/01114 frac. 
LD 1703 
LR 2246(02) 
An Act To Increase College Affordability and the Rate of Degree Completion 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A" C s -(1 F;(),) 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
The general operating expenses of this task force are projected to be $4,875 in fiscal year 2014-15. The Legislature's 
proposed budget includes $10,000 in fiscal year 2014-15 for legislative studies. Whether that amount is sufficient to 
fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. The 
additional costs of providing staffing assistance to the study during the interim can be absorbed utilizing existing 
budgeted staff resources. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The additional costs associated with serving on the task force can be absorbed by the public higher education 
institutions and the Department of Education within the existing budgeted resources. 
LR2246(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1