An Act To Expand the Educational Opportunity Tax Credit
Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §5217-D, sub-§1, ¶G, as amended by PL 2013, c. 525, §15, is further amended to read:
(1) Attended, and obtained an associate or a bachelor's degree from, an accredited Maine community college, college or university after December 31, 2007. The individual need not obtain the degree from the institution in which that individual originally enrolled, as long as all course work toward the degree is performed at an accredited Maine community college, college or university, except that an individual who transfers to an accredited Maine community college, college or university after December 31, 2012 from outside the State and earned no more than 30 credit hours of course work toward the degree at an accredited non-Maine community college, college or university after December 31, 2007 and prior to the transfer is eligible for the credit if all other eligibility criteria are met. Program eligibility for such an individual must be determined as if the commencement of course work at the relevant accredited Maine community college, college or university was the commencement of course work for the degree program as a whole;
(2) Was a Maine resident while in attendance at the accredited Maine community college, college or university. For purposes of this subparagraph, "Maine resident" has the same meaning as in Title 20-A, section 12541, subsection 5;
(3) Lived in Maine while pursuing the degree, excepting periods when it was reasonably necessary for the individual to live elsewhere as part of the relevant institution's academic programs or while pursuing course work at an accredited non-Maine community college, college or university as provided in subparagraph (1);
(4) During the taxable year, was a resident individual; and
(5) Worked during the taxable year:
(a) For tax years beginning prior to January 1, 2015, at least part time for an employer located in this State or, for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, was, during the taxable year, deployed for military service in the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard and the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces; or
(b) For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, at least part time in this State for an employer or as a self-employed individual or was, during the taxable year, deployed for military service in the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard and the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces . ; or
(c) For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, if a graduate of the Maine Maritime Academy, at least part time in a position on a vessel at sea.
As used in this subparagraph, "deployed for military service" has the same meaning as in Title 26, section 814, subsection 1, paragraph A.
summary
This bill allows a graduate of the Maine Maritime Academy who is a resident of Maine but is employed in a position outside of Maine on a vessel at sea to qualify for the educational opportunity tax credit, which is currently available only to residents who are employed by an employer in Maine or who are deployed for military service.