Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study Accessibility and Affordability of Higher Education
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1003
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: TREAT, CAIN, DILL, KUMIEGA, KUSIAK, LIBBY, NELSON, TIPPING-SPITZ, CUSHING

Legislative Document 
No. 1003 
H.P. 701 
House of Representatives, March 12, 2013 
Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study Accessibility and 
Affordability of Higher Education 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative TREAT of Hallowell. 
Cosponsored by Senator CAIN of Penobscot and 
Representatives: DILL of Old Town, KUMIEGA of Deer Isle, KUSIAK of Fairfield, LIBBY 
of Lewiston, MacDONALD of Boothbay, NELSON of Falmouth, TIPPING-SPITZ of Orono, 
Senator: CUSHING of Penobscot. 
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Commission To Study Accessibility and Affordability of Higher 
Education is established to study ways to improve higher education by making it more 
affordable and accessible to the State's citizens; and 
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that 
the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next 
legislative session; 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 
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the Commission To Study Accessibility and Affordability of Higher Education, 
referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That the commission consists of 
members appointed as follows: 
1.  Six members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows: 
A.  Two members of the Senate, including not more than one member from the party 
holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature; 
B.  One member who is currently attending an institution of higher education or who 
is a recent graduate of an institution of higher education; 
C.  One member who represents a family who has a student attending an institution of 
higher education; 
D.  One member who is a representative of a public institution of higher education; 
and 
E.  One member who represents an advocacy organization that represents students or 
consumer interests; and 
2.  Seven members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as 
follows: 
A.  Three members of the House of Representatives, including not more than 2 
members from the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature; 
B.  One member who is currently attending an institution of higher education or who 
is a recent graduate of an institution of higher education; 
C.  One member who represents a family who has a student attending an institution of 
higher education; 
D.  One member who is a representative of a private institution of higher education; 
and 
E.  One member who is a representative of a financial institution in the State. 
The commission also has the following ex officio members:  the Chief Executive 
Officer of the Finance Authority of Maine; the Commissioner of Education, or the 
commissioner's designee; the Chair of the State Board of Education; and the 
Superintendent of Consumer Credit Protection within the Department of Professional and 
Financial Regulation; and be it further 
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 
commission; and be it further 
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission.  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 commission.  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 commission to meet and conduct its business; and be it further 
Sec. 5.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the commission shall: 
1.  Undertake a comprehensive study of the administrative and academic decisions 
and practices at the institutions and system levels that affect accessibility and 
affordability of higher education; 
2.  Examine the effectiveness and financial sustainability of current financial 
assistance programs in the State; 
3.  Review the transparency and disclosure policies of institutions of higher education 
concerning financial aid awards, adjustments to those awards and total borrowing costs; 
4.  Review other states' efforts to improve accessibility and affordability of higher 
education and consider the best practices from other states, public institutions and 
systems of higher education in implementing the commission's plan; 
5.  Provide recommendations for implementing a strategic plan and specific actions 
that may be reasonably taken to increase the accessibility and enhance the affordability of 
public higher education for residents of the State; 
6.  Consult with all departments and agencies in the State to obtain advice and 
information as the commission determines necessary to facilitate its purposes; and 
7.  Have 5 meetings in 2013, with the first meeting on August 1, 2013; and be it 
further 
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 7.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than February 1, 2014, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature and 
no later than February 1, 2015 shall submit its final report that includes its findings and 
recommendations, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the First Regular 
Session of the 127th Legislature; and be it further 
Sec. 8.  Outside funding.  Resolved:  That the commission shall seek outside 
funding contributions to supplement legislative funding of the study.  All funding is 
subject to approval by the Legislative Council in accordance with its policies. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Commission To Study Accessibility and Affordability of 
Higher Education.