An Act Regarding College Affordability
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1129
Committee Amendment CA_A_H394 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "fl" to H.P. 792, L.D. 1129, Bill, "An Act 
Regarding College Affordability" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Regarding College Affordability in the Maine Community College System' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 
Program review and report on college affordability and 
accessibility. Resolved: 
That the Maine Community College System shall identify 
and review programs that make college affordable and accessible in other states, 
including, but not limited to, Tennessee, Indiana, Rhode Island and New York. The 
review must assess opportunities, burdens, costs, benefits and successes of programs 
including promise programs, last dollar scholarship programs and free college programs. 
The system shall report its findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and 
Cultural Affairs no later than February 1, 2018; and be it fmiher 
Sec. 2. Last dollar scholarship program for Maine Community College 
System students enrolled in one-year occupational certificate programs. 
Resolved: That the Maine Community College System shall develop guidelines and 
eligibility requirements for and pilot a last dollar scholarship program in fiscal years 
2017-18 and 2018-19 to cover costs associated with tuition and fees for qualified students 
who enroll in a one-year occupational certificate program; and be it futiher 
Sec. 3. Last dollar scholarship program for Maine Community College 
System students enrolled in the 2nd year of a 2-year program. Resolved: That 
the Maine Community College System shall develop guidelines and eligibility 
requirements for and pilot a last dollar scholarship program in fiscal years 2017-18 and 
2018-19 to cover costs associated with tuition and fees for qualified students who have 
successfully completed the first year of a 2-year program and are enrolled for the 2nd 
year; and be it further 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
tH~ 
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. 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT,#,, to H.P. 792, L.D. 1129 
Sec. 4. 
Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: 
That the following 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE 
Last Dollar Scholarship Program N259 
Initiative: Provides one-time funds to provide scholarships to a total of 275 full-time 
qualified students in a one-year occupational cettificate program. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
Last Dollar Scholarship Program N259 
2017-18 
$250,000 
$250,000 
2018-19 
$750,000 
$750,000 
Initiative: Provides one-time funds to provide scholarships to a total of 550 qualified 
students who have successfully completed the first year of a 2-year program and are 
enrolled for the 2nd year. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF 
TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
2017-18 
$200,000 
$200,000 
2017-18 
$450,000 
$450,000 
2018-19 
$1,800,000 
$1,800,000 
2018-19 
$2,550,000 
$2,550,000 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority report of the committee and changes the title and 
replaces the bill, which is a concept draft, with a resolve. The amendment requires the 
Maine Community College System to identify and review programs that make college 
affordable and accessible in other states and to repott its findings to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by February 1, 2018. It provides funding 
for 2 new scholarship programs within the Maine Community Col1ege System in fiscal 
years 2017-18 and 2018-19. It provides $1,000,000 for a last dollar scholarship program 
to cover tuition and fees for selected students enrolled in a one-year occupational 
certificate program and $2,000,000 for a last dollar scholarship program to cover tuition 
7 
and fees for selected students who have successfully completed the first year of a 2-year 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" ~;(to H.P. 792, L.D. 1129 
program and are enrolled for the 2nd year. The amendment adds an appropriations and 
allocations section to implement the scholarship programs. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/25/17 feac 
LD 1129 
LR 1322(02) 
An Act Regarding College Affordability 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment {f ( ff-3?-JL/) 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
. Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2017-18 
FY 2018-19 
$450,000 
$2,550,000 
$450,000 
$2,550,000 
Projections 
FY2019-20 
$0 
$0 
Projections 
FY 2020-21 
$0 
$0 
This bill includes General Fund appropriations totaling $450,000 in fiscal year 2017-18 and $2,550,000 in fiscal year 
2018-19 to a newly created Last Dollar Scholarship Program within the Maine Community College System. Of this 
amount, $250,000 in fiscal year 2017-18 and $750,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 is provided for scholarships to a total of 
full-time qualified students in a one-year occupational certificate program. Additionally, $200,000 in fiscal year 
2017-18 and $1,800,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 is provided for scholarships to a total of 550 qualified students who 
have successfully completed the first year of a two-year program and are enrolled for the second year. 
LR1322(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1