An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Strengthen and Align the Services Provided to Maine's Veterans Regarding Enhancements to the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1612
Committee Amendment CA_A-HA_B_H617 (House)
Amends: 37-B MRSA §3, 37-B MRSA §501, 37-B MRSA §503, 37-B MRSA §503-B, 30-A MRSA §5047, 30-A MRSA §5048, 36 MRSA §1760, 30-A MRSA §6054, 37-B MRSA §152, 37-B MRSA §154, 37-B MRSA §155, 37-B MRSA §352, 37-B MRSA §353, 37-B MRSA §354, 37-B MRSA §355, 37-B MRSA §356, 37-B MRSA §357, 37-B MRSA §358

HOUSE AMENDMENT "6" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1100, 
L.D. 1612, Bill, "An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To 
Strengthen and Align the 
Services Provided to Maine's Veterans Regarding 
Enhancements to the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services" 
Amend the amendment by striking out everything after the first occurrence of 
"Amend the bill" and inserting the following: 
'by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Improve the Delivery of Services and Benefits to Maine's Veterans and 
Provide Tuition Assistance to Members of the Maine National Guard' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'PART A 
Sec. A-1. 37-B MRSA §3, sub-§1, ~' as amended by PL 2013, c. 469, §1 and 
c. 569, §2, is further amended to read: 
D. Have the following powers and duties. 
(1) The Adjutant General shall administer the department subordinate only to the 
Governor. 
(2) The Adjutant General shall establish methods of administration consistent 
with the law necessary for the efficient operation of the department. 
(3) The Adjutant General may prepare a budget for the department. 
(4) The Adjutant General may transfer personnel from one bureau to another 
within the department. 
( 5) 
The Adjutant General shall supervise the preparation of all state 
informational reports required by the federal military establishment. 
( 6) The Adjutant General shall keep an accurate account of expenses incurred 
and, in accordance with Title 5, sections 43 to 46, make a full report to the 
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Governor as to the condition of the military forces, and as to all business 
transactions of the Military Bureau, including detailed statements of expenditures 
for military purposes. 
(7) The Adjutant General is responsible for the custody, care and repair of all 
military property belonging to or issued to the State for the military forces and 
shall dispose of military property belonging to the State that is unserviceable. 
The Adjutant General shall account for and deposit the proceeds from that 
disposal with the Treasurer of State, who shall credit them to the Capital Repair, 
Maintenance, Construction and Acquisition Account of the Military Bureau. 
(8) The Adjutant General may sell for cash to officers of the state military forces, 
for their official use, and to organizations of the state military forces, any military 
or naval property that is the property of the State. The Adjutant General shall, 
with an annual report, render to the Governor an accurate account of the sales and 
deposit the proceeds of the sales with the Treasurer of State, who shall credit 
them to the General Fund. 
(9) The Adjutant General shall represent the state military forces for the purpose 
of establishing the relationship between the federal military establishment and the 
various state military staff departments. 
(10) The Adjutant General shall accept, receive and administer federal funds for 
and on behalf of the State that are available for military purposes or that would 
further the intent and specific purposes of this chapter and chapter 3. 
The 
Adjutant General shall provide the personnel, supplies, services and matching 
funds required by a federal cost-sharing arrangement pursuant to 31 United States 
Code, Chapters 63 and 65 (2013); 32 United States Code (2013); and National 
Guard Regulation 5-1 (2010). The Adjutant General shall receive funds and 
property and an accounting for all expenditures and property acquired through 
such a federal cost-sharing arrangement and make returns and reports concerning 
those expenditures and that property as required by such a federal cost-sharing 
arrangement. 
( 11) The Adjutant General shall acquire, construct, operate and maintain military 
facilities necessary to comply with this Title and Title 32 of the United States 
Code and shall operate and maintain facilities now within or hereafter coming 
within the jurisdiction of the Military Bureau. 
(12) The Adjutant General may adopt rules pertaining to compliance with state 
and federal contracting requirements, subject to Title 5, chapter 375. Those rules 
must provide for approval of contracts by the appropriate state agency. 
(13) The Adjutant General shall allocate and supervise any funds made available 
by the Legislature to the Civil Air Patrol. 
(14) The Adjutant General shall report at the beginning of each biennium to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over veterans' 
affairs on any recommended changes or modifications to the laws governing 
veterans' affairs, particularly as those changes or modifications relate to changes 
in federal veterans' laws. The report must include information on the status of 
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communications with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs regarding 
the potential health risks to and the potential disabilities of veterans who as 
members of the Maine National Guard were exposed to environmental hazards at 
the Canadian military support base in Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada. 
(15) The Adjutant General may receive personal property from the United States 
Department of Defense that the Secretary of Defense has determined is suitable 
for use by agencies in law enforcement activities, including counter-drug 
activities, and in excess of the needs of the Department of Defense pursuant to 10 
United States Code, Section 2576a, and transfer ownership of that personal 
property to 
state, 
county 
and 
municipal 
law 
enforcement 
agencies 
notwithstanding any other provision of law. The Adjutant General may receive 
excess personal property from the United States Department of Defense for use 
by the department, notwithstanding any other provision of law. 
( 16) The Adjutant General may establish a science, mathematics and technology 
education improvement program for schoolchildren known as the ST ARBASE 
Program. The Adjutant General may accept financial assistance and in-kind 
assistance, advances, grants, gifts, contributions and other forms of financial 
assistance from the Federal Government or other public body or from other 
sources, public or private, to implement the ST ARBASE Program. The Adjutant 
General may employ a director and other employees, permanent or temporary, to 
operate the ST ARBASE Program. 
( 17) The Adjutant General shall establish a system, to be administered by the 
Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services, to express formally 
condolence and appreciation to the closest surviving family members of members 
of the United States Armed Forces who, since September 11, 2001, are killed in 
action or die as a consequence of injuries that result in the award of a Purple 
Heart medal. In accordance with the existing criteria of the department for the 
awarding of gold star medals, this system must provide for the Adjutant General 
to issue up to 3 gold star medals to family members who reside in the State, one 
to the spouse of the deceased service member and one to the parents of the 
service member. If the parents of the service member are divorced, the Adjutant 
General may issue one medal to each parent. If the service member has no 
surviving spouse or parents or if they live outside of the State, the Adjutant 
General may issue a gold star medal to the service member's next of kin, as 
reported to the department, who resides in the State. 
( 18) The Adjutant General may establish a National Guard Youth Challenge 
Program consistent with 32 United States Code, Section 509 (1990). 
The 
Adjutant General may accept financial assistance from the Federal Government 
or other public body or from other sources, public and private, to implement the 
National Guard Youth Challenge Program. The Adjutant General may employ a 
director and other employees, permanent or temporary, to operate the program. 
(19) The Adjutant General may execute cooperative agreements for purposes 
described or defined by this Title and other arrangements necessary to operate the 
department. 
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(20) The Adjutant General shall act as the Governor's homeland security advisor. 
(21) The Adjutant General shall implement a program to identify residents of the 
State who are not considered veterans but are military retirees or former members 
of the Maine Army National Guard or Maine Air National Guard who 
successfully completed service. 
Sec. A-2. 37-B MRSA §501, first ,, as amended by PL 1997, c. 455, §17, is 
further amended to read: 
The Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services, referred to in this chapter as the "bureau," is 
established and shall provide informational services, program assistance, memorial 
facilities and financial aid to veterans in the State and their dependents in order to ensure 
that they receive all entitlements due under the law, are relieved to the extent possible of 
financial hardship, receive every opportunity for self-improvement through higher 
education and are afforded proper recognition for their service and sacrifice to the Nation. 
The bureau shall serve as the primary source of information for veterans in the State 
regarding all services, benefits and honors administered by the State and, to the maximum 
extent possible, services and benefits provided by the United States Department of 
Veterans Affairs, veterans' service organizations and other organizations dedicated to 
serving veterans. 
Sec. A-3. 37-B MRSA §503, sub-§§7 and 8 are enacted to read: 
7. Marketing and outreach program. The director shall implement, as a core 
function of the bureau, a marketing and outreach program to increase. to the greatest 
extent practicable. awareness of services and benefits available to veterans and family 
members of veterans and to encourage veterans to seek the benefits and services to which 
they are entitled. 
The director is authorized to employ personnel dedicated to the 
marketing and outreach program objectives described in this subsection. The director is 
authorized to enter into memoranda of understanding with other state agencies to allow 
for the sharing of information to achieve the objectives of the program. Upon request of 
the director, agencies required to enter into memoranda of understanding with the director 
include, but are not limited to, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles under the Department of the 
Secretary of State, the Bureau of Parks and Lands under the Department of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the 
Department of Health and Human Services, the University of Maine System and the 
Maine Community College System. The marketing and outreach program objectives 
must include, but are not limited to: 
A. Identifying residents of the State who are veterans; 
B. Increasing awareness of the bureau for veterans and family members of veterans; 
C. Implementing media and technology to encourage veterans to self-identify to the 
bureau and communicating to veterans and family members of veterans about the 
services and benefits available to them; 
D. Attendance by bureau personnel at events organized for and by veterans that, as 
determined by the director, facilitate the objectives of this subsection; and 
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E. Establishing benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of marketing and outreach 
efforts. 
The program objectives listed in this subsection may also be used to assist the 
commissioner to identify residents of this State who are military retirees or former 
members of the Army National Guard or Air National Guard who completed service 
requirements but never served on active duty pursuant to section 3, subsection 1, 
paragraph D, subparagraph (21). 
8. 
Records management system. 
The director shall acquire and maintain an 
electronic database with secured' remote access capabilities to facilitate management of 
records of veterans, spouses of veterans and veterans' dependents served by the bureau. 
When selecting a records management system, the director shall ensure that, at a 
minimum, the system supports the bureau in meeting the following objectives: 
A. Reducing reliance on paper records: 
B. Allowing for immediate access by authorized users to update records; 
C. Displaying a complete record of assistance provided by the bureau to veterans and 
veterans' family members; and 
D. Providing efficient and timely customer service to veterans seeking assistance 
from the bureau. 
Sec. A-4. 37-B MRSA §503-B is enacted to read: 
§503-B. Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services Special Operations Fund 
The Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services Special Operations Fund, referred to in this 
section as "the fund," is established as a dedicated, nonlapsing account that must be used 
exclusively for the purposes listed in this section. The fund may not be used for the 
general administrative costs or general operating expenses of the bureau. The fund must 
be used to support the following initiatives. 
1. Reducing homelessness among veterans. The bureau shall use the fund for 
efforts by the bureau to address homelessness among veterans, including, but not limited 
to, funding the costs of a veteran service officer who is specifically assigned the duties of 
addressing veteran homelessness and the costs incurred by the bureau by the requirement 
that the director or the director's designee serve on the Statewide Homeless Council under 
Title 30-A, chapter 202, subchapter 5-A and the responsibilities associated with that 
membership. 
2. Mobile veteran service officers. The bureau shall use the fund to fund the costs 
of employment of 2 veteran service officers who are not assigned to a specific region or 
office but who are directed to work in parts of the State or on issues for which there is the 
greatest need among veterans as determined by the director. 
3. Records management system. The bureau shall use the fund to pay for the costs 
of the acquisition and ongoing maintenance of an electronic records management system 
as required by section 503, subsection 8. 
4. Marketing and outreach. The bureau shall use the fund to fund the costs of 
meeting the objectives described by section 503, subsection 7 for a marketing and 
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outreach program to increase awareness of services and benefits available to veterans and 
their family members, including the costs of employing a dedicated, full-time outreach 
coordinator. The director shall dedicate no less than 20% of the money in the fund 
toward marketing and outreach, including contracting for the professional services of a 
marketing firm to facilitate meeting the objectives described in section 503, subsection 7. 
Sec. A-5. Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services to establish 
mobile Veteran Service Officer positions. No later than October 15, 2016, the 
Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services within the Department of Defense, 
Veterans and Emergency Management shall establish 2 additional Veteran Service 
Officer positions within the bureau. The positions may not be assigned exclusively to a 
particular region or office within the State but must be used to assist veterans in the State 
where the demand for services is greatest, as determined by the director. 
PART B 
Sec. B-1. 30-A MRSA §5047, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 600, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
1. 
Membership; chair. The council consists of H 14 members appointed as 
follows: 
A. 
Six members appointed by the Governor, 2 from each of 3 regional homeless 
councils, based on nominations provided by the 3 regional homeless councils; 
B. The Director of the Maine State Housing Authority; 
C. Three members appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker 
of the House, one from each of 3 regional homeless councils, based on nominations 
provided by the 3 regional homeless councils; 
D. One member representing the Office of the Governor, who serves as the chair; 
E. 
The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's 
designee; aae 
F. The Commissioner of Corrections or the commissioner's designee7; and 
G. The Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services or the director's designee. 
Sec. B-2. 30-A MRSA §5048, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2007, c. 600, §4, is 
further amended to read: 
7. 
Review, monitor and implement plans. On an annual basis, review and 
comment on plans submitted pursuant to Title 34-B, section 1221 and propose 
amendments and updates to and implement a plan to end homelessness; aae 
Sec. B-3. 30-A MRSA §5048, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 600, §5, is 
5 
amended to read: 
8. Advise departments. Advise the Department of Corrections and the Department 
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of Health and Human Services on issues related to homelessness and other issues related 
to the duties of the councik and 
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Sec. B-4. 30-A MRSA §5048, sub-§9 is enacted to read: 
9. Develop strategic plan regarding homelessness among veterans. 
Develop 
strategies to enhance coordination and communication among agencies and organizations 
that provide services that seek to place veterans in permanent housing and that seek to 
improve access to services known to support housing stability for veterans who are 
experiencing homelessness or veterans who are at risk of homelessness. The council shall 
develop and periodically review a strategic plan that: 
A. Establishes a baseline for homelessness in the State from which improvements 
can be measured. In determining the baseline, the council is not required to use the 
federal definition of homelessness and may include levels of housing instability or 
ranges of homelessness; 
B. Develops a method of measuring homelessness among veterans in the State to 
demonstrate whether efforts to reduce the number of homeless veterans in the State 
have been successful; 
C. Identifies specific processes for improving communication among agencies that 
provide services to veterans, including services unrelated to homelessness, that will 
facilitate identification of veterans in need of housing assistance or veterans who may 
be at risk of homelessness and maximize resources available to address homelessness 
among veterans; and 
D. Develops a framework and timeline for determining progress of communication 
and coordination efforts targeting homelessness among veterans and the effectiveness 
of those efforts in reducing homelessness among veterans. 
The Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services shall periodically report to the 
council regarding the progress of implementing the strategies described in this subsection. 
Beginning February 1, 2018, the director shall report annually to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over veterans affairs on the 
implementation of the strategic plan. The report must include, but is not limited to, the 
effect of the strategic plan on homelessness among veterans based on the measurements 
required to be established by this subsection. 
Sec. B-5. Development of initial strategic plan. By February 15, 2017, the 
Statewide Homeless Council, established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, 
chapter 202, subchapter 5-A, shall develop an initial strategic plan pursuant to Title 30-A, 
section 5048, subsection 9. 
Sec. B-6. Report to Legislature. By March 1, 2017, the Director of the Bureau 
5 
of Maine Veterans' Services within the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency 
Management shall present the strategic plan developed pursuant to the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 30-A, section 5048, subsection 9, including a description of the process 
used to develop it, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over veterans affairs. 
Sec. B-7. Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services to establish 
Veteran Service Officer position. No later than February 1, 2017, the Director of the 
Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services within the Department of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management shall establish one additional Veteran Service Officer position 
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within the bureau. Duties must include coordination of efforts to address homelessness 
among veterans in the State. 
PARTC 
Sec. C-1. 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§100 is enacted to read: 
100. 
Certain veterans' service organizations. 
Sales to an organization that 
provides services to veterans and their families that is chartered under 36 United States 
Code, Subtitle II, Part B, including posts or local offices of that organization, and that is 
recognized as a veterans' service organization by the United States Department of 
Veterans Affairs. 
Sec. C-2. Effective date. This Part takes effect August 1, 2016. 
PARTD 
Sec. D-1. 30-A MRSA §6054, sub-§§3 to 5, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 269, Pt. 
B, §2, are amended to read: 
3. Use of fund during bond retirement period; fiscal years before July 1, 2017. 
Money in the fund must be held and applied solely to the payment of the liquor operation 
revenue bonds and any ancillary obligations secured by the fund as the bonds and 
ancillary obligations become due and payable and for the retirement of liquor operation 
revenue bonds, including costs of administering the fund, the bonds and the ancillary 
obligations and the payment of any redemption premium required to be paid when any 
liquor operation revenue bonds are redeemed or retired before maturity or for the 
payment of ancillary obligations; except that, to the extent there is money in the fund not 
needed in accordance with terms of the liquor operation revenue bonds and ancillary 
obligations, before June 30th of each year, the bond bank shall withdraw an amount not 
exceeding $16,714,844 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, $16,639,000 in the fiscal 
year ending June 30, 2016 and $16,817,000 $18,045,720 in the fiscal year ending June 
30, 2017 to be paid to the State and distributed in the manner and priority as follows: 
A. First, to the General Fund as undedicated revenue up to $9,714,884 in the fiscal 
year ending June 30, 2015, $9,639,000 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016 and 
$9.817.000 $9,897,546 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017; 
A-1. Second, to the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services Special Operations Fund 
established under Title 37-B, section 503-B in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, 
$548,174. Distributions required by this paragraph must be made before October 1, 
2016; 
A-2. Third, to the Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund established under Title 
37-B, section 353-A for tuition assistance for Maine National Guard members in the 
fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, $600,000. Distributions required by this paragraph 
must be made before October 1, 2016; 
B. Seeoad Fourth, the remainder, if any, in each fiscal year divided in equal amounts 
to an account within the Department of Health and Human Services and an account 
within the Department of Environmental Protection, up to $3,500,000 per account or 
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the maximum amount allowed for federal matching funds purposes under federal 
water programs, whichever is less, to be used for revolving loan funds for drinking 
water systems and wastewater treatment; and 
C. 
+hifa Fifth, the remainder, if any, to an account within the Department of 
Transportation to be used for the construction of highways and bridges. 
4. Use of fund during bond retirement period; from July 1, 2017 until bonds 
retired. Money in the fund must be held and applied solely to the payment of the liquor 
operation revenue bonds and any ancillary obligations secured by the fund as the bonds 
and ancillary obligations become due and payable and for the retirement of liquor 
operation revenue bonds, including costs of administering the fund, the bonds and the 
ancillary obligations and the payment of any redemption premium required to be paid 
when any liquor operation revenue bonds are redeemed or retired before maturity or for 
the payment of ancillary obligations; except that, to the extent there is money in the fund 
not needed in accordance with terms of the liquor operation revenue bonds and ancillary 
obligations, before June 30th of each year, the bond bank shall withdraw an amount not 
exceeding $7,000,000 $8,148,174 to be paid to the State and distributed in the manner 
and priority as follows: 
A. First, an amount not exceeding $7 ,000,000 distributed in equal amounts to an 
account within the Department of Health and Human Services and an account within 
the Department of Environmental Protection, up to $3,500,000 per account or the 
maximum amount allowed for federal matching funds purposes under federal water 
programs, whichever is less, to be used for revolving loan funds for drinking water 
systems and wastewater treatment; aad 
A-1. 
Second, $548,174 to the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services Special 
Operations Fund established under Title 37-B, section 503-B; 
A-2. Third. $600,000 to the Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund established 
under Title 37-B, section 353-A for tuition assistance for Maine National Guard 
members; and 
B. The remainder, if any, to an account within the Department of Transportation to 
be used for the construction of highways and bridges. 
Immediately upon retirement of all outstanding liquor operation revenue bonds and 
ancillary obligations secured by the fund, the bond bank shall withdraw any excess 
money in the fund and transfer it to the Maine Budget Stabilization Fund established in 
Title 5, section 1532. 
5. Use of fund after bond retirement. After all liquor operation revenue bonds and 
any ancillary obligations secured by the fund have been retired, additional proceeds 
credited to the fund from Title 22-A, section 216 and Title 28-A, section 90 must be 
disbursed on a quarterly basis to the State, after payment of costs of administering the 
fund, and credited by the State Controller as follows: 
A. The lesser of 15% and the maximum amount allowed for federal matching funds 
purposes under federal water programs, divided equally between an account within 
the Department of Health and Human Services and an account within the Department 
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of Environmental Protection for revolving loan funds for drinking water systems and 
wastewater treatment; 
A-1. Five hundred forty-eight thousand one hundred seventy-four dollars to the 
Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services Special Operations Fund established under Title 
37-B, section 503-B; 
A-2. Six hundred thousand dollars to the Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund 
established under Title 37-B, section 353-A for tuition assistance for Maine National 
Guard members; 
B. Thirty-five percent of the remainder, if any, to an account within the Department 
of Transportation for construction of highways and bridges; and 
C. The remainder to the Maine Budget Stabilization Fund established in section 
1532. 
PARTE 
Sec. E-1. 37-B MRSA §152, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2003, c. 488, §1 and 
affected by §5, is further amended to read: 
2. Rental proceeds. Except as provided in section m 353-A, rental proceeds from 
the rental of armories under this section must be paid into the State Treasury and credited 
to the Armory Rental Fund to be used for operation and maintenance expenses at the 
various state-owned facilities of the Military Bureau. Rental proceeds credited to the 
Armory Rental Fund are in addition to the appropriations made for operation and 
maintenance expenses included for that purpose in the Military Fund. 
Sec. E-2. 37-B MRSA §154, as amended by PL 2013, c. 469, §2, is further 
amended to read: 
§154. Capital Repair, Maintenance, Construction and Acquisition Account 
Except as provided in section m 353-A, the Capital Repair, Maintenance, 
Construction and Acquisition Account is established in the Military Bureau as a 
nonlapsing fund to assist in defraying the capital repair, maintenance and construction of 
state-owned properties of the Military Bureau, as well as purchasing land for training 
sites. 
The bureau may not spend $500,000 or more for any single capital repair, 
maintenance or construction project or land acquisition unless that expenditure is 
approved in advance by the Legislature. Not later than January 1st of each odd-numbered 
year, the bureau shall submit a list to the Legislature that identifies the location, nature 
and cost of each planned capital repair, maintenance and construction project and land 
acquisition costing less than $500,000. 
Sec. E-3. 37-B MRSA §155, as amended by PL 2003, c. 488, §3 and affected by 
§5, is further amended to read: 
§155. Reimbursement fund 
The Maine National Guard may provide services in accordance with section 181-A, 
subsections 4 and 5 and section 183 for federal, state, county, regional and municipal 
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governments and agencies and nongovernmental entities and may charge for those 
services. Except as provided in section ~ 
353-A, the fees collected must first be 
allocated for funding the cost of providing those services, and any remaining fees may be 
expended only within the Military Bureau. 
Sec. E-4. 37-B MRSA §352, sub-§§4 to 7, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 488, §4 
and affected by §5, are amended to read: 
4. 
State postsecondary education institution. 
"State postsecondary education 
institution" means the University of Maine System, the Maine Maritime Academy, the 
Maine Teehnieal Community College System or any other college or university system 
established as a public instrumentality of this State. 
5. Tuition. "Tuition" means the total semester, trimester, quarter or term or credit 
hour cost of instruction to the student as periodically published in the catalog of a state 
postsecondary education institution, ineruding mandatsry fees and lab fees l:n:1t excluding 
all mandatory fees and lab fees and other expenses such as book charges, room and 
board. 
6. Tuition benefit. "Tuition benefit" means tuition provided by the Maine National 
Guard using either state or federal funds or waivers of tuition from a state postsecondary 
education institution. 
7. Unsatisfactory participant. "Unsatisfactory participant" means a member who 
has accumulated 9 or more unexcused absences from unit training assemblies or who 
within a 12-month period, without proper authorization, fails to attend or complete the 
entire period of annual training. 
Sec. E-5. 37-B MRSA §353, as amended by PL 2013, c. 469, §5, is repealed. 
Sec. E-6. 37-B MRSA §§353-A, 353-B and 353-C are enacted to read: 
§353-A. Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund 
The Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund, referred to in this section as "the 
fund," is established in the Military Bureau as a nonlapsing account in the General Fund 
to provide tuition benefits for eligible Maine National Guard members to state 
postsecondary education institutions. 
Deposits to the fund may come from sources 
including but not limited to: the Armory Rental Fund established in section 152; the 
Capital Repair, Maintenance, Construction and Acquisition Account established in 
section 154; the reimbursement fund established in section 155; revenue generated from 
the Maine Military Authority; and rental income fees under Title 5, section 1742, 
subsection 26, paragraph B. 
The Adjutant General is responsible for oversight and 
allocation of these funds in accordance with this subchapter. The Adjutant General shall 
provide a report to the Commissioner of Education on the first day of January each 
calendar year accounting for the use of all funds in the fund. 
§353-B. Tuition benefit for member 
A member who meets the prerequisites of section 354 is entitled to a 100% tuition 
benefit at a state postsecondary education institution. The benefit applies to tuition for a 
member enrolled or accepted for admission to a state postsecondary education institution 
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on a full-time or part-time basis. To be eligible for the benefit, a member must be enrolled 
full-time or part-time at a state postsecondary education institution. The benefit may be 
used to earn one credential at the following levels: baccalaureate, associate or certificate 
and licensure. The benefit must be reduced by any other tuition assistance received by a 
member not related to housing costs or non-tuition expenses. 
§353-C. Waiver required 
If the cost of providing the tuition benefit under this subchapter exceeds the amount 
of money available in the Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund established in 
section 353-A, the tuition benefit must be provided in the form of a tuition waiver 
provided by the state postsecondary education institution. 
Sec. E-7. 37-B MRSA §354, sub-§§2 and 3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 488, §4 
and affected by §5, are amended to read: 
2. Participant. Be a satisfactory participant in the Maine National Guard who has 
not previously earned a bachelor's degree or equivalent and be a member in good standing 
of the Maine National Guard at the beginning of and throughout the entire semester for 
which the member receives benefits; ood 
3. Contractual commitment. Enter into a written contractual commitment with the 
Maine National Guard to serve in the Maine National Guard for at least one year beyond 
the end of the term for which a tuition benefit is granted~; and 
Sec. E-8. 37-B MRSA §354, sub-§4 is enacted to read: 
4. Pursued all other benefits available. Have applied for all available tuition 
benefits not related to housing costs or non-tuition expenses, including but not limited to: 
A. Federally funded military tuition assistance; 
B. Employer tuition reimbursements or assistance; and 
C. Federal grants, such as a Federal Pell Grant. 
Sec. E-9. 37-B MRSA §355, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 488, §4 and affected by 
§5, is amended to read: 
§355. Cessation of tuition benefit 
The tuition benefit granted under this subchapter for a member ceases upon: 
1. Credit hours. Accumulation of -1-§-0 130 credit hours or the equivalent of the 
tuition benefit as provided in this subchapter when the benefit is used in part or in whole; 
2. Unsatisfactory participation. Unsatisfactory participation in the Maine National 
Guard as certified to the state postsecondary education institution or re~lm:iallv aeeredited 
nrivAtA AAllAl>'A AT 11nivernitv by the Adjutant General; 0f 
3. Good academic standing. Failure by the member to maintain good academic 
standing and a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale at the state 
postsecondary education institution or regioaally aeereEiited private eollege or HHh'ersity.; 
or 
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4. Restitution plan. Imposition of a plan for the member to pay restitution of tuition 
benefits in accordance with this subchapter. 
Sec. E-10. 37-B MRSA §356, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 488, §4 and 
affected by §5, is amended to read: 
2. Repay tuition. If the member becomes an unsatisfactory participant or does not 
remain in good academic standing with the state postsecondary education institution eF 
regionally aeeredited private eollege or ooiyersity, then the member shall repay the full 
amount of a tuition benefit for all courses taken during the preceding semester, trimester, 
quarter or term to the Maine National Guard. 
Sec. E-11. 37-B MRSA §356, sub-§4 is enacted to read: 
4. Rules. The Adjutant General shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this 
section, which are routine technical rules under Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. E-12. 37-B MRSA §357, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 488, §4 and affected by 
§5, is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
§357. In-state tuition rates 
A member who is approved to receive tuition benefits under this subchapter qualifies 
for in-state tuition rates. 
Sec. E-13. 37-B MRSA §358, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 488, §4 and affected by 
§5, is repealed. 
Sec. E-14. 37-B MRSA §§359 and 360 are enacted to read: 
§359. Mobilized or deployed members 
Any member who is a student receiving a tuition benefit under this subchapter who is 
mobilized or deployed is entitled to an extension of the time the tuition benefit may be 
claimed equal to the amount of time served on active duty. 
§360. Policies and implementation 
The Adjutant General is responsible for overall policies, guidance, administration and 
proper use of the program provided for in this subchapter. 
PARTF 
Sec. F-1. Identify potential inefficiencies and propose improvements to 
veterans' services. 
The University of Maine System and the Maine Community 
College System, for their respective campuses and in consultation with the Department of 
Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services, 
shall each: 
1. Identify the needs of student-veterans and potential student-veterans attempting to 
achieve a postsecondary education to degree completion, including but not limited to 
their ability to gain admission to the University of Maine System or the Maine 
Community College System, successfully meet the requirements of a course of study, 
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successfully transition to civilian life in a supportive educational environment, obtain 
available federal veterans' benefits and successfully meet personal and financial 
obligations; 
2. Identify existing services specifically for student-veterans and other services 
available to student-veterans on each campus that meet the needs identified in subsection 
1. 
' 
3. Assess the effectiveness in meeting the needs identified in subsection 1 of existing 
services specifically for student-veterans and other services available to student-veterans 
on each campus; 
4. Determine what services are not currently being offered that, if offered, would 
meet the needs identified in subsection 1; and 
5. Propose services and solutions that fulfill the needs identified in subsection 1 on 
each campus or across campuses that are based upon best practices in postsecondary 
educational institutions within the State and nationwide. 
Sec. F-2. Report. By January 15, 2017, the University of Maine System and the 
Maine Community College System shall each submit a report of its findings and 
proposals under section 1 to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs and veterans and legal affairs. Each joint 
standing committee is authorized to introduce a bill to the First Regular Session of the 
128th Legislature related to the subject matter of the reports. 
PARTG 
Sec. G-1. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT 
OF 
Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund Z190 
Initiative: Provides an allocation to increase access to postsecondary education for Maine 
National Guard members. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
Veterans Services 0110 
2015-16 
$0 
$0 
2016-17 
$600,000 
$600,000 
Initiative: Provides an allocation for one Veteran Service Officer position and related 
costs. 
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OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
POSITIONS -LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOT AL 
Veterans Services 0110 
2015-16 
0.000 
$0 
$0 
$0 
2016-17 
1.000 
$81,258 
$10,000 
$91,258 
Initiative: Provides an allocation for 2 Veteran Service Officer positions and related costs. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
Veterans Services 0110 
2015-16 
2016-17 
0.000 
2.000 
$0 
$162,516 
$0 
$28,000 
$0 
$190,516 
Initiative: Provides an allocation for the purchase and maintenance of an electronic case 
management system. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
Veterans Services 0110 
2015-16 
$0 
$0 
2016-17 
$80,000 
$80,000 
Initiative: Provides an allocation to implement a marketing and outreach program for 
veterans. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
Veterans Services 0110 
2015-16 
$0 
$0 
Initiative: Establishes headcount for one Veterans Outreach Specialist position. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
2015-16 
0.000 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
2016-17 
$186,400 
$186,400 
2016-17 
1.000 
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OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY 
MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL -ALL FUNDS 
SUMMARY 
$0 
2015-16 
$0 
$0 
$0 
2016-17 
$1,148,174 
$1,148,174 
Like the bill, this amendment implements recommendations of the Commission To 
Strengthen and Align the Services Provided to Maine's Veterans. This amendment also 
combines proposals from 5 Legislative Documents, L.D. 1343, L.D. 1590, L.D. 1611, 
L.D. 1612 and L.D. 1625, that improve the delivery of services and benefits to Maine 
veterans and provide tuition assistance to members of the Maine National Guard. 
Part A requires the Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services within the 
Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management to include marketing and 
outreach objectives as a core function of the bureau. 
The marketing and outreach 
objectives are intended to identify residents in the State who are veterans and also to 
maximize awareness of benefits and services available to veterans and family members of 
veterans. Part A also directs the bureau to acquire and implement an electronic records 
management system to create efficiencies and provide timely and effective customer 
service to veterans seeking assistance from the bureau. The bureau is required to serve as 
the primary source of information for veterans regarding the services, benefits and honors 
provided to veterans. Part A requires the director to employ 2 additional veteran service 
officers who are not assigned to a particular region but who will be directed to where the 
service needs of veterans are greatest and makes a current temporary position of outreach 
coordinator permanent. Part A establishes a special operations account from which the 
director may fund outreach and marketing efforts, acquire the records management 
system, fund mobile veteran service officers and cover the costs of efforts aimed at 
reducing veteran homelessness. 
Part B proposes changes to current law to address homelessness among veterans by 
requiring coordination of agencies that provide services to veterans to maximize 
resources available to support stable, permanent housing for veterans at risk of 
homelessness. 
Part B requires that the Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' 
Services within the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management be 
appointed to an existing entity, the Statewide Homeless Council. Part B requires the 
Statewide Homeless Council to develop a strategic plan to maximize existing services, 
enhance communication among providers and improve access to services that support 
permanent and stable housing for veterans. The director is required to report annually to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over veterans affairs 
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regarding the implementation of the plan and its effect on homelessness among veterans. 
Part B authorizes the director to employ a veteran service officer whose duties include 
working on tasks relative to homelessness among veterans. 
Part C provides a sales tax exemption to all federally chartered veterans' service 
organizations, beginning August 1, 2016. 
Part D designates revenues from the Liquor Operation Revenue Fund to the Bureau 
of Maine Veterans' Services Special Operations Fund to fund the costs of marketing and 
outreach, efforts to address homelessness, the costs of an electronic records management 
system, positions in the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services within the Department of 
Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management tasked with working on homelessness 
and outreach coordination and 2 mobile veteran service officers. Part D also designates 
funds from the Liquor Operation Revenue Fund for the tuition waiver program 
established in Part E of this amendment. 
Part E establishes the Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund to provide for a 
I 00% tuition waiver at any state postsecondary education institution for qualified 
members of the Maine National Guard. 
Part F directs the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College 
System to identify the needs of student-veterans on their campuses, including needs 
related to admission, degree completion, transitioning to civilian life and meeting 
personal and financial obligations, and directs the University of Maine System and the 
Maine Community College System to identify existing services that meet the needs 
identified, assess the effectiveness of those services, determine what services are not 
being offered that, if offered, would meet those needs and propose services and solutions 
that fulfill those needs across campuses that are based upon best practices. 
Part G provides for allocations to fund the initiatives proposed in this amendment. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
SPONSORED BY: Ja.i:J. g. Qj~ 
(Representative ~DEN) 
TOWN: Lewiston 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/29/16 
feac:.. 
LD 1612 
LR2675(05) 
An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Strengthen and Align the Services 
Provided to Maine's Veterans Regarding Enhancements to the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services 
Fiscal Note for House Amendmenti,1 to Committee Amendment "A" 
Sponsor: Rep. Golden of Lewiston 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential tuition revenue loss - Public post-secondary educational institutions 
Projections 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Revenue 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
FY 2015-16 
FY 2016-17 
FY 2017-18 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
($345,516) 
($345,516) 
$1,148,174 
$0 
$1,146,531 
($303,561) 
($395,383) 
$1,198,479 
($91,822) 
$1,146,300 
Projections 
FY 2018-19 
($307,121) 
($403,075) 
$1,208,682 
($95,954) 
$1,146,216 
Under current law, the Liquor Operation Revenue Fund (Liquor Fund) within the Maine Municipal Bond Bank is 
required to distribute funds in the following order in fiscal year 2016-17: (1) Liquor Operation Revenue Bonds debt 
service, which will be $26,841,273 in fiscal year 2016-17; (2) $9,817,000 to the General Fund (GF); (3) up to 
$3,500,000 to each of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS), and; (4) remaining amounts to the Department of Transportation (DOT). This amendment raises the 
maximum transfer by an additional $1,228, 720 in fiscal year 2016-17 and has the following new order of 
distributions: (1) same payment of debt service; (2) $9,897,546 to the GF; (3) $600,000 to the Maine National Guard 
Postsecondary Fund; (4) $548,174 to the Bureau of Veterans Services Special Operations Fund; (5) up to $3,500,000 
to each of the DEP and the DHHS, and; (6) remaining amounts to the DOT. 
Under current law, the Liquor Fund is required to distribute funds in the following order in fiscal years 2017-18 
through 2023-24: (1) payment of debt service; (2) up to $3,500,000 each to the DEP and the DHHS, and; (3) 
remainder to the DOT. The new distribution would raise the maximum transfer by an additional $1,148,174 and has 
the following new order of distributions: (1) same payment of debt service; (2) up to $3,500,000 each to the DEP and 
the DHHS; (3) $600,000 to the Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund; (4) $548,174 to the Bureau of Veterans 
Services Operations Fund, and; (5) the remainder to the DOT. 
LR2675(05) - Fiscal Note - Page I of2 
Under current law, the Liquor Fund, after all debt service and any ancillary obligations secured by the fund have been 
retired, proceeds are distributed as follows: (1) up to a total of 15% of funds to the DEP and the DHHS; (2) 35% to 
the DOT, and; (3) the remainder to the Maine Budget Stabilization Fund. This amendment has a new distribution as 
follows: (1) up to a total of 15% to the DEP and the DHHS; (2) $600,000 to the Maine National Guard Postsecondary 
Fund (3) $548,174 to the Bureau of Veterans Services Special Operations Fund; (4) 35% of the remaining funds to the 
DOT, and; (5) 65% of the remainder to the Maine Budget Stabilization Fund. 
The Liquor Fund is expected to receive sufficient revenue from liquor operations to make these transfers to the 
various entities. This amendment contains the necessary OSRF allocations to sufficiently operate the Veterans 
Services Special Operations Fund. 
This bill provides a sales tax exemption to all federally-chartered veterans' service organizations. This will reduce 
General Fund revenue and Local Government Fund revenue annually beginning in fiscal year 2016-17. The reduction 
to the General Fund will be $80,546 in fiscal year 2016-17, $91,822 in fiscal year 2017-18 and $95,954 in fiscal year 
2018-19. A one-time Liquor Fund revenue transfer will reimburse the General Fund in fiscal year 2016-17 only for the 
$80,546 loss. No Liquor Fund transfers will be made after fiscal year 2016-17 to reimburse the General Fund for the 
loss of sales tax revenue in subsequent years. 
The bill establishes the Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund within the Department of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management and provides annual Other Special Revenue Funds allocations to the department of $600,000 
beginning in fiscal year 2016-17 to provide tuition assistance to eligible members. 
The requirement that the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System and Maine Maritime 
Academy waive tuition costs that exceed the amount of tuition benefit a member receives from the Maine National 
Guard Postsecondary Fund may result in a loss of tuition revenue to the State's public postsecondary educational 
institutions. 
LR2675(05) - Fiscal Note - Page 2 of2