Amend the bill in section 2 in paragraph D-1 by striking out all of subparagraphs (1) to (3) and inserting the following:
‘(1) For an individual graduating from an accredited Maine community college, college or university before January 1, 2015, the amount calculated by the State Tax Assessor under Title 20-A, section 12542, former subsection 2-A;
(2) For an individual obtaining a bachelor's degree and graduating from an accredited Maine community college, college or university on or after January 1, 2015, the average in-state tuition and mandatory fees for attendance at the University of Maine System for the academic year ending during the calendar year prior to the year of graduation multiplied by 4; and
’(3) For an individual obtaining an associate degree and graduating from an accredited Maine community college, college or university on or after January 1, 2015, the average in-state tuition and mandatory fees for attendance at the Maine Community College System for the academic year ending during the calendar year prior to the year of graduation multiplied by 2.
Amend the bill in section 3 in paragraph G in subparagraph (1) in division (b) in the last line (page 2, line 44 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: " 2007" the following: ' as long as no more than 30 credit hours of course work toward the degree were earned at an accredited non-Maine community college, college or university other than as part of the regional student program'
summary
This amendment extends to a graduate who pursued a course of study available only at a public institution outside the State as part of the New England regional student program offered by the New England Board of Higher Education the same allowance as is provided for graduates of Maine accredited institutions, which provides that a graduate is not disqualified if 30 or fewer of the graduate's credit hours were obtained from a nonqualifying non-Maine community college, college or university. The amendment also makes changes to the definition of "principal cap" in order to avoid misinterpretation.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)