An Act To Establish the Maine Community College System No-cost Tuition Program
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0860
Committee Amendment CA_A_H692 (House)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §12723

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 634, L.D. 860, Bill, "An Act To 
Establish the Maine Community College System No-cost Tuition Program" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Establish the Maine Community College System Pell Grant Match 
Program' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in subsection 4 in the 4th line (page 1, line 7 in L.D.) by 
striking out the following: "No-cost Tuition" and inserting the following: 'Pell Grant 
Match' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §12723 is enacted to read: 
§12723, Maine Community College System Pell Grant Match Program 
The Maine Community College System Pell Grant Match Program, referred to in this 
section as "the program." is established within the system to assist in funding community 
college for eligible students. 
1. Eligibility. A person is eligible to receive a grant award under subsection 2 if the 
person: 
A. Is a resident of the State as determined by the system; 
B. Has completed an application for federal student financial aid programs and is 
eligible for a Federal Pell Grant for the academic year in which the person applies to 
the program; and 
C. Maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a scale of 4.0 as determined 
by the college the person attends. 
2. Grant awards. Beginning in fiscal year 2020-21, the system may award a student 
who is eligible under subsection 1 a grant award under this subsection. The grant award 
may not exceed 100% of the amount of funds provided by the Federal Pell Grant that the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROFS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/J "to H.P. 634, L.D. 860 
student receives for the academic year in which the student applies. The availability of 
the grant award and the amount of the grant award are subject to the amount available in 
the fund established under subsection 3. 
3. 
Fund. 
The Maine Community College System Pell Grant Match Fund is 
established as a nonlapsing fund administered by the system. Grant awards may be 
distributed from this fund only to students who meet the eligibility requirements under 
subsection 1. 
4. Rulemaking. The system may adopt rules to implement and administer the 
provisions of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical 
rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375. subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE 
Maine Community College System - Board of Trustees 0556 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds for the Maine Community College System Pell Grant 
Match Program. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
2019-20 
$0 
$0 
2020-21 
$3,600,000 
$3,600,000 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, changes the title and 
renames the program the Maine Community College System Pell Grant Match Program. 
The amendment establishes the program and provides that a student is eligible for the 
program if the student is a resident of the State, is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and 
maintains a minimum grade point average. The grant award may not exceed 100% of the 
amount of funds provided by the Federal Pell Grant that the student receives for the 
academic year in which the student applies. The availability of the grant and the amount 
of the grant are subject to the amount available in the established fund, and the Maine 
Community College System may adopt rules to implement and administer the program 
and fund. 
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section with an 
appropriation of $3,600,000. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 02/11/20 ::Wac 
LD860 
LR 331(02) 
An Act To Establish the Maine Community College System No-cost Tuition Program 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment•~{ /I ,..b lf J..) 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Projections 
Projections 
FY 2019-20 
FY 2020-21 
FY 2021-22 
FY2022-23 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
$0 
$3,600,000 
$3,600,000 
$3,600,000 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
$0 
$3,600,000 
$3,600,000 
$3,600,000 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill includes ongoing General Fund appropriations of $3,600,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 2020-21 to the 
Maine Community College System (MCCS) to establish the Maine Community College System Pell Grant Match 
Program and Fund to provide grant awards to eligible students to match the amount of funds provided by the Federal 
Pell Grant that the student receives for the academic year in which the student applies. The estimate provided by 
MCCS assumes 7,200 Pell Grant recipients are eligible to receive a matching grant of $500 each year. 
LR0331(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1