PART Q

Sec. Q-1. 10 MRSA §1100-Y, sub-§2, ķA, as amended by PL 2003, c. 451, Pt. JJ, §1, is further amended to read:

A. For initial certification, the organization must be a private, nonprofit organization that is qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, that has as one of its purposes the provision of need-based scholarships to eligible students, that meets the standards adopted by the authority by rule under subsection 7, that files reports as required by this section and that:

(1) Is affiliated with and designated by an accredited institution of higher education in this State; or

(2) Has filed as a nonprofit corporation with the Secretary of State on or before April 1, 2005 2006 and continues as a nonprofit corporation in good standing with the Secretary of State.

Sec. Q-2. 10 MRSA §1100-Y, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2003, c. 451, Pt. JJ, §2, is further amended to read:

7. Rulemaking. The authority, after consultation with the Bureau of Revenue Services, shall establish rules for the application, eligibility and annual filing requirements necessary to implement the certification of qualified scholarship organizations pursuant to this section and may include any rules necessary to establish initial application fees and penalties, which may include monetary penalties and revocation of certification, to ensure that a qualified scholarship organization is fulfilling the requirements of this section. These rules may also include any necessary conflict-of-interest provisions pertaining to qualified scholarship organizations. The authority shall also establish any rules necessary to define postsecondary education loans that are eligible for the recruitment credits provided under Title 36, sections 2528 and 5219-V. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection, including those setting initial application fees and penalties, are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2- A. The authority shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over taxation matters by January 30, 2006 2007 on the rules and rule-making process to implement the tax credit program established pursuant to this subchapter.