CHAPTER 783
S.P. 963 - L.D. 2505
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §11670, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. OOO, §5, is amended to read:
§11670. Quality Child Care Education Scholarship fund
The Quality Child Care Education Scholarship Fund is created and established as a nonlapsing fund under the jurisdiction and control of the Finance Authority of Maine. All revenues credited to this fund must be distributed as scholarships based on financial need for residents of the State who are enrolled in one or more courses related to early childhood education or child development at accredited institutions of higher education or at course-offering institutions that have articulated agreements with accredited institutions of higher education. The Finance Authority of Maine shall award scholarships and adopt rules for determining eligibility, amounts, terms and conditions of scholarships. Interest earned on amounts in the fund may be used for the costs of administering the scholarships. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §12501, sub-§§1-D and 1-E are enacted to read:
1-D. Child care. "Child care" means a regular service of care and protection provided for compensation for any part of a day less than 24 hours to a child or children under 16 years of age whose parents work outside the home, attend an educational program or are otherwise unable to care for their children.
1-E. Child development student. "Child development student" means a college student or graduating high school senior who is pursuing child development associate certification or an associate's degree in child development.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §12502, as amended by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. OOO, §6 and c. 441, §6, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§12502. Educators for Maine Program
There is established the Educators for Maine Program to provide financial assistance to college students, graduating high school seniors and students pursuing postbaccalaureate certification, child development associate certification or an associate's degree in child development who demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in teaching in this State for postsecondary education and to teachers and speech pathologists for advanced-degree or continued study. The program recognizes outstanding graduating high school seniors, college students and students pursuing postbaccalaureate certification or child development associate certification or an associate's degree in child development. The chief executive officer shall administer the program and shall establish by rule the rates of interest or fees to be charged.
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §12504, 2nd ¶, as amended by PL 1999, c. 441, §8, is further amended to read:
Loans of up to $1,500 per academic year or $6,000 total may be made to students pursuing postbaccalaureate certification. Loans of up to $3,000 per academic year or $12,000 total may be made to eligible graduating high school seniors and college students. Loans of up to $3,000 per academic year or $6,000 total may be made to eligible child development students pursuing an associate's degree in child development, and loans of up to $3,000 total but not exceeding the cost of tuition, books and fees may be made to child development students pursuing a child development associate certification. An individual who has received a Educators for Maine loan or a Blaine House Scholars Program loan as a graduating high school senior or as a college student may also receive a loan for students pursuing postbaccalaureate certification or as a teacher or speech pathologist engaged in graduate education or continuing education. In no event may an individual receive more than $18,000 in total. Loans for undergraduate students and, postbaccalaureate recipients and child development students pursuing an associate's degree in child development are for one academic year and are automatically renewed if the recipient maintains a grade point average of 2.5 based on a 4.0 grade point system or the equivalent.
Sec. 5. 20-A MRSA §12507, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4. Child development students. A child development student may fulfill a return service requirement under this section by working in a licensed day care center or for a certified home day care provider, as defined in Title 22, section 8301-A.
Sec. 6. 22 MRSA c. 1082 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 1082
QUALITY CHILD CARE
§4095. Quality child care site
1. Definition. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, "quality child care site" means a child care site that meets minimum licensing standards and:
A. Is accredited by an independent, nationally recognized program approved by the Department of Human Services, Office of Head Start and Child Care;
B. Utilizes recognized quality indicators for child care services approved by the Department of Human Services, Office of Head Start and Child Care; and
C. Includes provisions for parent and client input, a review of the provider's policies and procedures, a review of the provider's program records and an on-site program review.
For large, multifunction agencies, only those portions of the child care sites that have been reviewed by the accrediting body may be considered quality child care sites.
2. List of sites. The department shall develop and maintain a list of quality child care sites in the State.
Effective August 11, 2000, unless otherwise indicated.
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