128th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1736		LR 2746(05)
	An Act To Broaden Educational Opportunities for Members of the Maine National Guard
	Fiscal Note for House Amendment " " to Committee Amendment "A"
	Sponsor: Rep. Farrin of Norridgewock
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Increased eligibility for tuition waiver - Maine National Guard Tuition Assistance Program Increased probability of tuition revenue loss - State postsecondary education instituitions Increased probability of tuition revenue loss - Maine Criminal Justice Academy
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This amendment expands the Maine National Guard Tuition Assistance Program to add the Maine Criminal Justice Academy to the list of state postsecondary education institutions where Maine National Guard members may receive a tuition benefit. To the extent that there are sufficient funds available in the Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund to pay the tuition costs for all Maine National Guard members who want to participate in the program, there is no fiscal impact to the Maine Criminal Justice Academy or the public and private postsecondary education institutions.  However, if expanding the program results in tuition costs exceeding available funding, there would be an impact to the Academy and the public and private postsecondary institutions in the form of lost tuition revenue. Currently, most municipal and county law enforcement personnel attending the academy have the cost paid by a municipality or county. Under this amendment the savings related to National Guard members in that circumstance would go back to the municipalities or counties, but not to the veterans. Whether that would encourage municipalities and counties to hire more veterans to reduce training costs cannot be determined.