An Act To Expand Competitive Skills Scholarships and Strengthen Maine's Workforce Development Programs
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1467
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: VITELLI, VACHON, KATZ, LIBBY, AUSTIN, FAY, JORGENSEN, TALBOT ROSS
Amends: 26 MRSA §1166, 26 MRSA §2033

Legislative Document
No. 1467
S.P. 513
In Senate, April 18, 2017
An Act To Expand Competitive Skills Scholarships and Strengthen 
Maine's Workforce Development Programs
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator VITELLI of Sagadahoc.
Cosponsored by Representative VACHON of Scarborough and
Senators: KATZ of Kennebec, LIBBY of Androscoggin, Representatives: AUSTIN of Gray, 
FAY of Raymond, JORGENSEN of Portland, TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  26 MRSA §1166, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 506, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
B.  "Competitive Skills Scholarship Fund planned yield" means the percentage of 
wages, as defined in section 1043, subsection 19, equal to .02% .04% of the total 
wages for each contributing employer subject to this chapter. 
Sec. 2.  26 MRSA §2033, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 352, Pt. A, §3, is 
amended to read: 
3.  Notice.  The department shall provide notice, including individual written notice, 
signs and other effective outreach methods, to inform people of the program and the 
education, training and support available from or through the program to individuals 
seeking work, education or training in the department's career centers.  Outreach efforts 
must be tailored to focus on, but may not be limited to, the following target 
demographics: unemployed and underemployed workers, veterans, immigrants, recipients 
of benefits under the statewide food supplement program pursuant to Title 22, section 
3104, low-skilled manufacturing workers and students enrolled in postsecondary 
education.  The department shall also collaborate with education and training partners, 
employers, trade associations and other entities to improve outreach to target populations 
in industry sectors identified as having a significant demand for a more highly skilled 
workforce.  Additionally, the department shall conduct outreach efforts with employers in 
industries with significant demand for skilled labor that have been approved for 
participation in the program pursuant to subsection 4 when those industries are at risk, 
diversifying or growing and whose employees may be eligible for the program. 
Sec. 3.  26 MRSA §2033, sub-§4, ¶A, as amended by PL 2011, c. 627, §4, is 
further amended to read: 
A.  The education or training provided through the program must be for employment 
in industries with significant demand for skilled labor that have been: 
(1)  Identified by the Center for Workforce Research and Information as 
providing opportunity for employment in jobs with high compensation; 
(2)  Recommended by the State Workforce Investment Board; and 
(3)  Approved by the Governor or the Governor's designee. 
The identification, recommendation and approval of industries pursuant to this 
paragraph must take into account direct employer input in identifying the inventory 
and growth of highly skilled jobs that are currently or soon to be present in the State's 
economy, with an emphasis on jobs in industries that are expanding, jobs that have 
recently emerged in significant numbers and jobs that may be anticipated based on 
business trends.  This identification, recommendation and approval must also take 
into account changing demographics, emerging trends and innovations and must 
include traditional industries in the State in which innovations and new technologies 
are creating demand for skilled workers, including, but not limited to, food 
production, farming, fisheries, wood products and manufacturing. 
Sec. 4.  26 MRSA §2033, sub-§8, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 352, Pt. A, §3, is 
amended to read: 
B.  Prior to the establishment of a plan, a participant must be given: 
(1)  A description of the program, including a list of services and supports 
available through the program and nontraditional employment opportunities, so 
that the participant may identify a suitable employment goal and the services 
needed to participate in the program; 
(2)  The opportunity to learn about and examine relevant labor market 
information related to identified industries and the participant's employment 
preference;  
(3)  If the participant's employment goal is an occupation for which an 
apprenticeship may be available, information about the department's 
apprenticeship program under chapter 33; and 
(4)  Information about and assistance in applying for other services that will 
assist the participant in succeeding in the plan and prevent any unnecessary 
expenditure of resources by the program, including federal financial aid provided 
under the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 United States Code, Chapter 
28; the family development account program under Title 10, chapter 110, 
subchapter 4-A; the state and federal earned income tax credit; health care 
resources; unemployment compensation; dislocated worker benefits; trade 
adjustment assistance; and other services available from other departments of 
State Government including the Department of Health and Human Services. ; and 
(5) Comprehensive career planning services that will enable the participant to 
identify a career goal and understand the financial costs and benefits of the 
education or training needed to meet that goal.  The department may partner with 
other entities in providing comprehensive career planning services under a 
memorandum of understanding that specifies the requirements for career goals 
under the program. 
Sec. 5.  Competitive Skills Scholarship Fund expenditures.  The Department 
of Labor shall allocate an additional $3,000,000 for use in the Competitive Skills 
Scholarship Program to increase enrollment in the program for fiscal year 2017-18 to a 
level that is approximately double the number of individuals enrolled in fiscal year 2016-
17.  At least 25% of these additional allocated funds per fiscal year must be reserved for 
the use of program participants who are also participants in the statewide food 
supplement program administered by the State pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 22, section 3104. 
Sec. 6.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF 
Employment Services Activity 0852 
Initiative:  Allocates an additional $3,000,000 for use in the Competitive Skills 
Scholarship Program on an ongoing basis.  This allocation will be offset by increased 
revenue to the Competitive Skills Scholarship Fund from an increase in the rate of the 
employer contribution to the fund in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, section 1166, 
subsection 1, paragraph B. 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes a number of changes to the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program 
administered by the Department of Labor, including the following. 
1.  It doubles the current employer contribution rate to the Competitive Skills 
Scholarship Fund. 
2.  It allocates an additional $3,000,000 on an ongoing basis from the Competitive 
Skills Scholarship Fund for the purpose of doubling the number of participants enrolled 
from the number of currently enrolled participants. 
3.  It dedicates 25% of the additional allocated funds per fiscal year for the use of 
program participants who are also participants in the federal supplemental nutrition 
assistance program administered by the State pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 22, section 3104. 
4.  It makes changes to the criteria used to determine approved education and training 
under the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program, including consideration of employer 
input, changing demographics and traditional industries in the State in which innovations 
and new technologies are creating a demand for skilled workers. 
5.  It requires that a participant be given information about and assistance in applying 
for the family development account program under Title 10, chapter 110, subchapter 4-A. 
6.  It also adds a requirement that a participant be offered comprehensive career 
planning services prior to the program’s development of an individual career plan with 
the participant. 
COMPETITIVE SKILLS SCHOLARSHIP FUND 
2017-18
2018-19
All Other 
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
COMPETITIVE SKILLS SCHOLARSHIP FUND 
TOTAL 
$3,000,000
$3,000,000