An Act to Encourage Participation in Maine's Essential Support Workforce Through Access to Higher Education
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1718
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: MEYER, DAUGHTRY, BRENNAN, CLOUTIER, FAY, GATTINE, TERRY

Legislative Document
No. 1718
H.P. 1107
House of Representatives, April 18, 2023
An Act to Encourage Participation in Maine's Essential Support 
Workforce Through Access to Higher Education
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and 
Business suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MEYER of Eliot.
Cosponsored by Senator DAUGHTRY of Cumberland and
Representatives: BRENNAN of Portland, CLOUTIER of Lewiston, FAY of Raymond, 
GATTINE of Westbrook, TERRY of Gorham.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, Maine is experiencing an unprecedented, severe and persistent shortage of 
essential support workers needed to care for and support older people, people with physical 
and intellectual disabilities and people with behavioral health challenges; and
Whereas, Maine people in all settings who are entitled to care and support are unable 
to secure the care and support they need due to this workforce shortage; and
Whereas, older people, people with physical and intellectual disabilities and people 
with behavioral health challenges are being harmed by being unable to receive the care and 
support they need; and
Whereas, hundreds of people each week are living in hospitals because of this 
workforce shortage, taking beds that are critically needed for other patients; and
Whereas, this workforce shortage continues to grow despite state agencies and the 
Legislature taking many critical steps to increase wages and attract workers to these jobs; 
and
Whereas, it is essential to create additional incentives for workers to choose these 
jobs and remain in them before the date that nonemergency legislation becomes effective 
for this Legislature; 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 enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA c. 110, sub-c. 15 is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 15
ESSENTIAL SUPPORT WORKER TUITION GRANT PROGRAM AND FUND
§1100-HH. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings.
1. Eligible person. "Eligible person" means a person eligible to use an education 
voucher under this chapter, including:
A. An eligible worker;
B. An eligible worker's spouse or domestic partner;
C. An eligible worker's biological or adopted child; or
D. An eligible worker's grandchild.
2. Eligible postsecondary educational institution.  "Eligible postsecondary 
educational institution" means the University of Maine System, the Maine Community 
College System or the Maine Maritime Academy.
3. Eligible worker. "Eligible worker" means an essential support worker who:
A. Is a Maine resident; 
B. Currently works as an essential support worker; and
C. Has worked at least 30 hours per week as an essential support worker in the State 
for one year or more.
4. Essential support worker.  "Essential support worker" has the same meaning as in 
Title 22, section 7401, subsection 3.
5. Fund. "Fund" means the Essential Support Worker Tuition Grant Fund under section 
1100-JJ.
6. Participating employer. "Participating employer" means a person who:
A. Provides essential support services in in-home, community or institutional settings 
reimbursed by the Department of Health and Human Services under the MaineCare 
program or another state-funded program;
B. Employs an essential support worker; and
C. Registers as a participating employer with the authority.
7. Program.  "Program" means the Essential Support Worker Tuition Grant Program 
under section 1100-II.
§1100-II. Essential Support Worker Tuition Grant Program 
1. Essential Support Worker Tuition Grant Program established. The Essential 
Support Worker Tuition Grant Program is established. The authority shall administer the 
program. The program provides to an eligible worker or a member of the eligible worker's 
family who qualifies as an eligible person an education voucher up to the amount of one 
year's tuition to an eligible postsecondary educational institution for each year the eligible 
worker works as an essential support worker, up to 4 years.
2. Program criteria. The program criteria are as follows:
A.  An employer of an eligible worker must apply to the authority for approval to 
become a participating employer; 
B. A participating employer must provide certification that the eligible worker worked 
as an essential support worker for the employer at least 30 hours per week for one year;
C. The eligible person using the education voucher completes an application for federal 
student financial aid programs for which the person may be eligible for the academic 
year for which the person applies, and the person must accept all available federal and 
state grants and scholarships, including from a federal Pell Grant or any other merit-
based or needs-based grant or scholarship and other sources of funding; 
D. The value of the education voucher amount is limited to the amount of the cost of 
tuition at an eligible postsecondary educational institution, less any financial aid 
received under paragraph C, not including a grant awarded under this subsection, that 
the eligible person is not required to repay;
E. The total value of an education voucher is capped at $4,000;
F. An education voucher is good for up to 5 years after it is awarded;
G. An eligible worker may earn up to 4 education vouchers total and the vouchers do 
not have to be earned in successive years;
H.  Education vouchers may be combined for use in one year to cover a higher cost of 
tuition at an eligible postsecondary educational institution; and
I.  A participating employer or eligible person who does not comply with the terms of 
the program may be required to repay the amount of any education voucher granted or 
may be prohibited from future participation in the program.
§1100-JJ. Essential Support Worker Tuition Grant Fund
The Essential Support Worker Tuition Grant Fund is created as a nonlapsing, interest-
earning, revolving fund to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The fund must be 
deposited with and maintained and administered by the authority. Any unexpended balance 
in the fund carries over for continued use under this chapter. The authority may receive, 
invest and expend on behalf of the fund money from gifts, grants, bequests, loans and 
donations in addition to money appropriated or allocated by the State. The fund may not 
exceed $8,000,000, although it still may receive gifts, grants, bequests, loans, donations 
and interest income. Money received by the authority on behalf of the fund, except interest 
income, must be used for the purposes of this chapter; interest income may be used for the 
purposes of this chapter or to pay administrative costs incurred by the authority, as 
determined appropriate by the authority.  Costs and expenses of maintaining, servicing and 
administering the fund and administering the program may be paid out of amounts in the 
fund.  
§1100-KK. Rules
The authority may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this chapter.  Rules adopted 
pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined by Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
FINANCE AUTHORITY OF MAINE
Essential Support Worker Tuition Grant Fund N440
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to support the Essential Support Worker Tuition Grant 
Program to provide education vouchers to eligible workers or to a member of the eligible 
worker's family.
GENERAL FUND
2023-24
2024-25
All Other
$60,000
$500,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$60,000
$500,000
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill creates the Essential Support Worker Tuition Grant Program to provide up to 
education vouchers equal to a year's tuition up to $4,000 at the University of Maine 
System, Maine Community College System or Maine Maritime Academy for an essential 
support worker employed in in-home or community support services reimbursed by the 
MaineCare program or another state program or a family member of the essential support 
worker.