An Act To Broaden Educational Opportunities for Members of the Maine National Guard

Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §352, sub-§3-A  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. 37-B MRSA §352, sub-§5,  as amended by PL 2015, c. 465, Pt. D, §4, is further amended to read:

Sec. 3. 37-B MRSA §353-A,  as enacted by PL 2015, c. 465, Pt. D, §6, is amended to read:

§ 353-A. Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund

The Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established in the Military Bureau as a nonlapsing account in the General Fund to provide tuition benefits for eligible Maine National Guard members to state postsecondary education institutions and private nonprofit postsecondary education institutions. Deposits to the fund may come from sources including but not limited to: the Armory Rental Fund established in section 152; the Capital Repair, Maintenance, Construction and Acquisition Account established in section 154; the reimbursement fund established in section 155; revenue generated from the Maine Military Authority; and rental income fees under Title 5, section 1742, subsection 26, paragraph B. The Adjutant General is responsible for oversight and allocation of these funds in accordance with this subchapter. The Adjutant General shall provide a report to the Commissioner of Education on the first day of January each calendar year accounting for the use of all funds in the fund.

Sec. 4. 37-B MRSA §353-B,  as enacted by PL 2015, c. 465, Pt. D, §6, is amended to read:

§ 353-B. Tuition benefit for member

A member who meets the prerequisites of section 354 is entitled to a 100% tuition benefit at a state postsecondary education institution or a private nonprofit postsecondary education institution, except that a tuition benefit at a private nonprofit postsecondary education institution may not exceed tuition at the Maine Maritime Academy during the prior academic year. The benefit applies to tuition for a member enrolled or accepted for admission on a full-time or part-time basis to a state postsecondary education institution on a full-time or part-time basis or a private nonprofit postsecondary education institution. To be eligible for the benefit, a member must be enrolled full-time or part-time at a state postsecondary education institution or a private nonprofit postsecondary education institution. The benefit may be used to earn one credential at the following levels: baccalaureate, associate or certificate and licensure. The benefit must be reduced by any other tuition assistance received by a member not related to housing costs or non-tuition expenses.

Sec. 5. 37-B MRSA §353-C,  as enacted by PL 2015, c. 465, Pt. D, §6, is amended to read:

§ 353-C. Waiver required

If the cost of providing the tuition benefit under this subchapter exceeds the amount of money available in the Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund established in section 353-A, the tuition benefit at a state postsecondary education institution must be provided in the form of a tuition waiver provided by the state postsecondary education institution.

Sec. 6. 37-B MRSA §355, sub-§§2 and 3,  as amended by PL 2015, c. 465, Pt. D, §9, are further amended to read:

Sec. 7. 37-B MRSA §356, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 2015, c. 465, Pt. D, §10, is further amended to read:

Sec. 8. 37-B MRSA §357,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2015, c. 465, Pt. D, §12, is amended to read:

§ 357. In-state tuition rates

A member who is approved to receive tuition benefits at a state postsecondary education institution under this subchapter qualifies for in-state tuition rates.

summary

This bill broadens the tuition benefit program that is available to members of the Maine National Guard who attend a state postsecondary education institution to provide a tuition benefit for members who attend a private nonprofit postsecondary education institution in the State. The bill limits the tuition benefit at private nonprofit postsecondary education institutions to the tuition at the Maine Maritime Academy during the prior academic year.