An Act to Equalize Funding for the Maine Maritime Academy
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2092
Committee Amendment CA_A_S626 (Senate)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §10017

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "ft " to S.P. 885, L.D, 2092, "An Act to Equalize
Funding for the Maine Maritime Academy"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'An Act Regarding Public Higher Education Funding in the State'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
following:
'See. 1. 20-A MRSA §10017 is enacted to read:
§10017. JVIandated leeisIativeAOpropriations for ]VIaine IMaritime Academy
Beginning in fiscal year 2024-25 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Legislature shall
increase the percentage of the Maine Maritime AcademY'stotal state apBropriation as a
share of its total operating costs by 5% until the percentage of the total state aporopriation
as a share of theMame Maritime Academy's total operatine costs equals at least the lesser
ofi
1. University of Maine System appropriations. The percentage of the University of
Maine System's total state appropriation as a share of its total operatine costs; and
2. Maine Community Colleee System appropriations. The percentage of the Maine
Community College System's total state aRpropriationas a share of its total operating costs,
The University of Mame System^ the Maine Community Colleee System and the
Maine Maritime Academy shall each submit to the Governor and to the Legislature a report
by December 1st annually that contains its most recent total operating costs^
Sec. 2. Commission established. The Commission to Study the Funding of
Institutions of Higher Education, referred to in this section as "the commission," is
established.
1. Notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the commission consists of 17 members, including:
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " /j " to S.P. 885, L.D. 2092 [ S'(^^.
y 1 A. Twomembers of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, who serve
on the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affau-s, including one
member of the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and one
member of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature;
B. Three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the
House, who serve on the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs,
including 2 members of the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature
and one member of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislahire;
C. One member with expertise in higher education policy issues representing a
statewide education policy research institute, appomted by the President of the Senate;
D. One member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of the
Maine Community College System, appointed by the President of the Senate;
E. One member representing the certification and higher education committee of the
State Board of Education, appointed by the President of the Senate;
F. One member who is employed as a faculty member at a private college or university
in the State, appointed by the President of the Senate;
G. One member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of the
University of Maine System, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
H. One member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of the
Maine Maritune Academy, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
I. One member representing private colleges and universities in the State, appointed
by the Speaker of the House;
J. One member who is currently enrolled as a student at a college or university in the
State, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
K. The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the chancellor's designee;
L. The President of the Maine Community College System or the president's designee;
M. The President of the Maine Maritime Academy or the president's designee; and
N. The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee.
In appointing members of the commission, the appointing authorities shall give
consideration to race, gender, socioeconomic diversity and geographic diversity.
2. The first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of
Representatives member is the House chair of the commission.
3. All appointments must be made no later than 3 0 days following the effective date of
this Act. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative
Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members,
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more
after the effective date of this Act a majority of but not all appointments have been made,
the chau-s may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the
commission to meet and conduct its business.
4. The commission shall review all related laws and rules addressing the State's public
policy on higher education, including but not limited to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title
Page2-131LR2800(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " /J " to S.P. 885, L.D. 2092,
20-A, section 10902, and the methods and mechanisms by which public higher education
institutions m the State are funded and make recommendations for potential legislative
changes.
In conducting its review, the commission shall analyze present and future goals, including
but not lunited to expanding access to affordable high-quality higher education to help
students achieve postsecondary success in the 21st ceirtury. The commission shall also
analyze present and past funding methods and mechanisms used in the State to determine
the State's portion of funding for the University of Maine System, the Maine Community
College System and the Maine Maritime Academy, as well as funding mechanisms used
by other states to fund public higher education.
To assist the commission in carrying out its review, the Department of Education, the
University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System and the Maine
Maritune Academy each shall provide to the commission any data and information the
commission requests and considers relevant to its work.
At the discretion of the chaks, the commission may seek input from stidents, faculty and
staff in the State's public institutions of higher education, groups that have an mterest in the
State's public instititions of higher education and other stakeholders.
5. The Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission,
except that Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when the Legislature is in
regular or special session.
6. No later than November 6,2024, the commission shall submit a report that includes
its fmdings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standmg
Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. The joint standing committee may report
out a bill related to the report to the 132nd Legislature in 2025,
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE
JVIaritime Academy - Operations 0035
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to increase the percentage of the Maine Maritime
Academy's total state appropriation as a share of its total operating costs by 5% until the
percentage of the total state appropriation as a share of the Maine Maritune Academy's total
operating costs equals at least the lesser of the percentage of the University of M'aine
System's and the Maine Community College System's total state appropriation compared
to each respective system's total operating costs.
GENERAL FUND 2023-24 2024-25
AllOther $0 $2,618,835
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $2,618,835
Amend the bill by relettermg or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " (\ " to S.P. 885, L.D. 2092 ^- j
D5..- 1 SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the bill and
changes the title. The amendment provides that, beginning in fiscal year 2024-25 and each
fiscal year thereafter, the Legislature must increase the percentage of the Maine Maritime
Academy's total state appropriation as a share of its total operating costs by 5% until the
percentage of the Maine Maritime Academy's total state appropriation as a share of the
academy's total operating costs equals at least the lesser of the percentages of the University
of Maine System's and the Maine Community College System's total state appropriation as
a share of each respective system's total operating costs. The amendment also establishes
the Commission to Study the Funding of Institutions of Higher Education to review past,
present and alternative methods and mechanisms of funding public higher education. The
commission is required to submit a report based on its findings to the Joint Standing
Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by November 6, 2024.
FISCAL NOTE REQmRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Revised: 03/22/24 /^»<=-
LD 2092 LR 2800(02)
An Act to Equalize Funding for the Maine IVIaritime Academy
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '^'(^'62^^
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Legislative Cost/Study
Projections Projections
FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $2,618,835 $5,464,735 $8,410,635
S^ppropriations/AlIocations
General Fund $0 $2,618,835 $5,464,735 $8,410,635
Legislative Cost/Study
The general, operating expenses of this study are projected to be $3,750 in fiscal year 2024-25. The Legislature's
budget for the 2024-2025 biennium includes $14,500 in each of fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25 for the costs of
legislative studies, as well as $38,909 of balances earned over from prior years for this purpose, Whether these
amounts are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council
and the Legislature. The additional costs of providing staffing assistance to the study during the interim can be
absorbed utilizing existing budgeted staff resources.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill includes ongoing General Fund appropriations of $2,618,835 in fiscal year 2024-25 to the Maritime
Academy - Operations program within Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) to increase the percentage ofMMA's total
state appropriation as a share of its total operating costs by 5% per year until the percentage of the MMA's total state
appropriation as a share of its total operating costs equals at least the lesser of the percentage of the University of
Maine System's (UMS) and the Maine Community College System's (MCCS) total state appropriation compared to
each system's total operating costs. Currently, MMA's total state appropriation funds approximately 24.82% of its
total operating costs while appropriations for the UMS funds approximately 43% of its operating costs and
appropriations for MCCS funds approximately 49% of its operating costs.
Additional costs to the State Board of Education, the UMS, the MCCS, MMA and the Department of Education
associated with serving on the commission can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR2800(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1