An Act To Amend the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program To Allow for Participation in Early College and Career and Technical Education Programs

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6976  is enacted to read:

§ 6976.  Financial assistance

Sec. 2. 26 MRSA §2033, sub-§2-A  is enacted to read:

Sec. 3. 26 MRSA §2033, sub-§5-A  is enacted to read:

SUMMARY

This bill expands the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program to include participants who are under 18 years of age if they are full-time secondary students at a public secondary school and enrolled in a career and technical education program at a career and technical education center or a career and technical education region and:

1. Do not have a marketable postsecondary degree;

2. Have income less than 200% of the federal poverty level; and

3. Are applying for education or training for a job in an approved industry.

The bill also directs the Commissioner of Labor to transfer funds from the Competitive Skills Scholarship Fund to cover postsecondary education expenses for secondary students in a dual enrollment career and technical education program established pursuant to statute, also known as a "Bridge Year Program."

The provisions in the bill are repealed on January 1, 2021.