An Act To Increase Access to Postsecondary Education for Maine National Guard Members

Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §152, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 2003, c. 488, §1 and affected by §5, is further amended to read:

Sec. 2. 37-B MRSA §154,  as amended by PL 2013, c. 469, §2, is further amended to read:

§ 154. Capital Repair, Maintenance, Construction and Acquisition Account

Except as provided in section 353, the The Capital Repair, Maintenance, Construction and Acquisition Account is established in the Military Bureau as a nonlapsing fund to assist in defraying the capital repair, maintenance and construction of state-owned properties of the Military Bureau, as well as purchasing land for training sites. The bureau may not spend $500,000 or more for any single capital repair, maintenance or construction project or land acquisition unless that expenditure is approved in advance by the Legislature. Not later than January 1st of each odd-numbered year, the bureau shall submit a list to the Legislature that identifies the location, nature and cost of each planned capital repair, maintenance and construction project and land acquisition costing less than $500,000.

Sec. 3. 37-B MRSA §155,  as amended by PL 2003, c. 488, §3 and affected by §5, is further amended to read:

§ 155. Reimbursement fund

The Maine National Guard may provide services in accordance with section 181-A, subsections 4 and 5 and section 183 for federal, state, county, regional and municipal governments and agencies and nongovernmental entities and may charge for those services. Except as provided in section 353, the The fees collected must first be allocated for funding the cost of providing those services, and any remaining fees may be expended only within the Military Bureau.

Sec. 4. 37-B MRSA §352, sub-§§4 and 6,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 488, §4 and affected by §5, are amended to read:

Sec. 5. 37-B MRSA §353,  as amended by PL 2013, c. 469, §5, is repealed.

Sec. 6. 37-B MRSA §353-A  is enacted to read:

§ 353-A.  Tuition benefit for member

A member who meets the prerequisites of section 354 is entitled to a 100% waiver of tuition costs at any state postsecondary education institution. This waiver applies to tuition for a member enrolled or accepted for admission to a state postsecondary education institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate degree program or certificate program. To be eligible for a tuition waiver, a member must be enrolled full-time or part-time at a state postsecondary education institution or must apply for and receive admission to a state postsecondary education institution. The waiver may be claimed for 5 separate academic years or 130 semester hours.

Sec. 7. 37-B MRSA §354, sub-§§2 and 3,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 488, §4 and affected by §5, are amended to read:

Sec. 8. 37-B MRSA §354, sub-§4  is enacted to read:

Sec. 9. 37-B MRSA §355, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 488, §4 and affected by §5, is amended to read:

Sec. 10. 37-B MRSA §357,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 488, §4 and affected by §5, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§ 357.  Instate tuition rates

The member must be a resident of the State for a minimum of 6 consecutive months prior to applying for the program and qualifies for instate tuition rates.

Sec. 11. 37-B MRSA §357-A  is enacted to read:

§ 357-A.  Revenue reduction

A state postsecondary education institution shall absorb the reduction in tuition revenues that results from providing the program to members. The institution may not request additional General Fund appropriations from the Legislature to offset the reduction in tuition.

Sec. 12. 37-B MRSA §358,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 488, §4 and affected by §5, is repealed.

Sec. 13. 37-B MRSA §§359 and 360  are enacted to read:

§ 359.  Mobilized or deployed members

Any member who is a student receiving a tuition waiver under this subchapter who is mobilized or deployed is entitled to an extension of the time the tuition waiver may be claimed equal to the amount of time served in active duty.

§ 360.  Policies and implementation

The Adjutant General is responsible for overall policies, guidance, administration and proper use of the program provided for in this subchapter.

summary

This bill provides for a tuition waiver for 100% of tuition costs at any state postsecondary education institution for qualified members of the Maine National Guard.