An Act To Attract Young People to Maine by Expanding the Job Creation Through Educational Opportunity Program
Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §5217-D, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2013, c. 525, §15, is further amended to read:
Sec. 2. 36 MRSA §5217-D, sub-§1, ¶¶B-1 and D-1, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 525, §15, are amended to read:
(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 or an accredited non-Maine community college, college or university under paragraph G, subparagraph (1), division (b) 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 or an accredited non-Maine community college, college or university under paragraph G, subparagraph (1), division (b) 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 . ; and
(4) For an individual obtaining a graduate degree on or after January 1, 2016 and graduating from an accredited Maine college or university or an accredited non-Maine college or university, 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.
Sec. 3. 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; :
(a) An associate or 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; or
(b) An associate, bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited Maine or non-Maine community college, college or university after December 31, 2015;
(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.
As used in this subparagraph, "deployed for military service" has the same meaning as in Title 26, section 814, subsection 1, paragraph A.
Sec. 4. 36 MRSA §5217-D, sub-§2, ¶B, as amended by PL 2013, c. 525, §15, is further amended to read:
Sec. 5. Application. This Act applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.
SUMMARY
This bill makes the following changes to the educational opportunity tax credit for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.
1. It expands eligibility to persons graduating after December, 31, 2015 from non-Maine community colleges, colleges and universities.
2. It expands the credit to cover graduate degrees.
3. It removes the requirement of Maine residency while attending school.
4. It permits coverage of refinanced and consolidated loans.