Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA c. 429-B is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 429-B

TUITION WAIVER AT STATE POSTSECONDARY

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR RESIDENTS

65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER

§12581.__Definition

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, "state postsecondary educational institution" means the University of Maine System, Maine Maritime Academy and the Maine Technical College System.

§12582.__Tuition waiver

Any person who meets the requirements of subsection 1 may audit courses in accordance with established institutional audit policy at any state postsecondary educational institution free of tuition charges, as provided in this section.

1.__Eligibility.__A person is eligible for a tuition waiver under this chapter if the person is:

A.__A Maine resident; and

B.__Sixty-five years of age or older.__A person is eligible at any time during the calendar year of that person's 65th birthday, regardless of the actual date during that calendar year.

2.__Limitation.__The tuition waiver provided by this chapter is limited to courses where space is available.

3.__Continuation.__The tuition waiver provided by this chapter is awarded on a yearly basis and continues to be available, if the person is otherwise eligible under this section, as long as the person remains in compliance with the state postsecondary educational institution's student conduct policies.

4.__Revenue reduction.__A state postsecondary educational institution shall absorb the reduction in tuition revenues that results from providing a tuition waiver to an eligible person under this chapter.__The institution may not request additional General Fund appropriations from the Legislature to offset the reduction in tuition revenues.