Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §13402, sub-§§7 and 8 are enacted to read:

7.__Minimum salary.__A teacher certified under chapter 501 may not receive an annual salary in an amount that is less than 1.5 times the federal nonfarm income official poverty line, as defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget, for a family of 3.

8.__Master's degrees.__A teacher certified under chapter 501 who has a master's degree or higher may not receive an annual salary in an amount that is less than 1.5 times the federal nonfarm income official poverty line, as defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget, for a family of 3 plus $2,000.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §§13803 and 13804 are enacted to read:

§13803.__Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program

There is established the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, administered by the commissioner.__The program must pay $3,000 per year towards a loan incurred at a postsecondary institution in the State by a teacher who teaches in the State after graduation, unless the teacher also possesses a degree in math or science or a master's degree or higher, in which case the program must pay $5,000 per year towards a loan incurred at a postsecondary institution in the State by the teacher.

§13804.__Vacant Teaching Position Fund

There is established the Vacant Teaching Position Fund, a nonlapsing, interest-bearing account administered by the commissioner.__All money deposited in the fund and the earnings on that money remain in the fund and must be used to provide a subsidy of up to $2,000 to a school administrative unit that cannot fill a needed teaching position before September 1st and for the necessary administrative and personnel costs associated with the management of the fund.

Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF

Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program

Initiative: Provides funds to forgive loans incurred at postsecondary schools in the State by teachers who teach in the State.