‘An Act To Establish the Maine Community College System Pell Grant Match Program’
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
Amend the bill in section 1 in subsection 4 in the 4th line (page 1, line 7 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " No-cost Tuition" and inserting the following: ' Pell Grant Match'
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §12723 is enacted to read:
§ 12723. Maine Community College System Pell Grant Match Program
The Maine Community College System Pell Grant Match Program, referred to in this section as "the program," is established within the system to assist in funding community college for eligible students.
1. Eligibility. A person is eligible to receive a grant award under subsection 2 if the person:
A. Is a resident of the State as determined by the system;
B. Has completed an application for federal student financial aid programs and is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant for the academic year in which the person applies to the program; and
C. Maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a scale of 4.0 as determined by the college the person attends.
2. Grant awards. Beginning in fiscal year 2020-21, the system may award a student who is eligible under subsection 1 a grant award under this subsection. The grant award may not exceed 100% of the amount of funds provided by the Federal Pell Grant that the student receives for the academic year in which the student applies. The availability of the grant award and the amount of the grant award are subject to the amount available in the fund established under subsection 3.
3. Fund. The Maine Community College System Pell Grant Match Fund is established as a nonlapsing fund administered by the system. Grant awards may be distributed from this fund only to students who meet the eligibility requirements under subsection 1.
4. Rulemaking. The system may adopt rules to implement and administer the provisions of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE
Maine Community College System - Board of Trustees 0556
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds for the Maine Community College System Pell Grant Match Program.
| GENERAL FUND | 2019-20 | 2020-21 |
|
All Other
|
$0 | $3,600,000 |
 |
|
|
| GENERAL FUND TOTAL | $0 | $3,600,000 |
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
summary
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, changes the title and renames the program the Maine Community College System Pell Grant Match Program. The amendment establishes the program and provides that a student is eligible for the program if the student is a resident of the State, is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and maintains a minimum grade point average. The grant award may not exceed 100% of the amount of funds provided by the Federal Pell Grant that the student receives for the academic year in which the student applies. The availability of the grant and the amount of the grant are subject to the amount available in the established fund, and the Maine Community College System may adopt rules to implement and administer the program and fund.
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section with an appropriation of $3,600,000.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)