123rd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1591		LR 2420(01)
	An Act To Provide Educational Opportunities for Dependents of Maine Military Personnel
	Fiscal Note for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Tardy of Newport
	Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Undetermined current biennium revenue decrease - Higher Educational Institutions
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	Including room and board in the waiver for a child of a veteran when that child is a full-time student will result in a loss of revenue to the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System and the Maine Maritime Academy.  The actual revenue loss to each institution can not be determined at this time and will depend on the number of full-time students that will be eligible for the waiver.  The decrease in revenue to the higher educational instituitions from this provision will need to be offset by either additional General Fund appropriations or increased charges to other students.
	The University of Maine System has estimated that, had this provision been in place for fiscal year 2005-06 and all of the 314 dependents who were eligible for the tuition waiver were also determined to be eligible for the room and board waiver, the loss of revenue to the System associated with the room and board waiver would have been $1.4 million.  Information provided by the Maine Maritime Academy indicates that, on average, 4 students qualify for the tuition waiver each year.  The Academy estimates the loss of room and board revenue if each of these 4 students were to also qualify for the room and board waiver to be approximately $29,600 per year.  The Maine Community College Systems estimates the loss of revenue associated with this provision to be approximately $558,000 per year based on an average room and board cost of $6,200 and the assumption that the approximately 90 students who are currently eligible for the tuition waiver are also eligible for the room and board waiver.