Joint Study Order To Study Providing Child Care for Students of the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System

the Senate concurring, that the Commission To Study Providing Child Care for Students of the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System is established as follows.

1. Commission To Study Providing Child Care for Students of the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System established. The Commission To Study Providing Child Care for Students of the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System, referred to in this order as "the commission," is established.

2. Membership. The commission consists of 9 members, appointed as follows:

ATwo members of the Senate, one Senator from the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and one Senator from the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, appointed by the President of the Senate;BFive members of the House of Representatives, with at least one Representative from the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and one Representative from the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, appointed by the Speaker of the House;COne member representing the University of Maine System with expertise in financial aid, appointed by the President of the Senate; andDOne member representing the Maine Community College System with expertise in financial aid, appointed by the Speaker of the House.

3. Commission chairs. The first-named Senator is the Senate chair of the commission and the first-named member of the House is the House chair of the commission.

4. Appointments; convening of commission. All appointments must be made no later than 30 days following passage of this order. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been made. When the appointment of all members has been completed, the chairs of the commission shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission.

5. Duties. The commission shall:

AMake a needs assessment of the current student population of the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System who have a child or children and how many of them would benefit from child care financial aid. The needs assessment must also review the potential of increasing enrollment if financial aid for child care was available for future students;BIn consultation with the Maine Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, if necessary, review the ability of financial aid officers to make what is known as "professional judgment" decisions on a case-by-case basis to students applying for financial aid to determine if that is a venue for providing financial aid funds to students and potential students who have a child or children. In making this review, the commission shall analyze the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, which identifies child care as a specific example of a special circumstance for use of professional judgment, but only when it involves unusually high child care costs and if that limitation is a hindrance to awarding financial aid for child care;CStudy and ascertain if there is a best way to have child care needs be a part of the total financial need of a student in a way that uses existing funds, programs, grants or financial aid packages for the benefit of increasing educational opportunities in this State; andDIssue a report of its findings and its recommendations.

6. Staff assistance. The Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission.

7. Report. No later than December 2, 2009 the commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. Pursuant to Joint Rule 353, the commission is not authorized to introduce legislation. Upon receipt of the report required by this section, the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs may, pursuant to Joint Rule 353, introduce a bill during the session to which the report is submitted to implement its recommendations on matters relating to the study.