Amend the bill by striking out all of the emergency preamble (page 1, lines 1 to 15 in L.D.).

Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 (page 1, lines 17 to 24 in L.D.)

Amend the bill in section 2 in subsection 4 in the first line (page 1, line 26 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " January 15, 2016, and by January 15th" and inserting the following: ' September 1, 2016, and by September 1st'

Amend the bill in section 2 in subsection 4 in the 3rd line (page 1, line 28 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " including the" and inserting the following: ' including possible'

Amend the bill in section 3 in the 4th line (page 1, line 39 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "July 1, 2015" and inserting the following: 'January 1, 2016'

Amend the bill in section 4 in the 5th line (page 2, line 9 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "July 1, 2015" and inserting the following: 'January 1, 2016'

Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 6 and 7 (page 5, lines 3 to 35 and page 6, lines 1 to 12 in L.D.) and inserting the following:

Amend the bill by striking out all of the emergency clause.

Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.

SUMMARY

This amendment makes the following changes to the recommendations proposed by the Commission To Study College Affordability and College Completion for consideration by the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs.

1. It strikes the proposal to increase the minimum Maine State Grant Program awards from $1,000 to $1,500.

2. It changes the date for the initial report required from the Finance Authority of Maine for the annual Maine State Grant Program awards made to eligible students, including the possible tiered grants awarded, from January 15, 2016 to September 1, 2016 and also amends the annual report date to September 1st.

3. It changes the date for the college attainment and degree completion goal reports required from the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System and the Maine Maritime Academy from July 1, 2015 to January 1, 2016.

4. It changes the date for the reports on strategic planning and funding required to implement college completion strategies required from the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System and the Maine Maritime Academy from July 1, 2015 to January 1, 2016.

5. It strikes the proposal to require the Finance Authority of Maine to amend the Maine State Grant Program rules related to awarding tiered grants to eligible students.

6. It strikes the appropriations to the Finance Authority of Maine for tiered grant awards and to the Maine Community College System for adding College Navigator positions and expanding student work study opportunities and replaces them with an allocation to fund the one-time costs of the legislative per diem and expenses of the Task Force To Study College Attainment and Degree Completion Goals.