127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1612		LR 2675(07)
	An Act To Improve the Delivery of Services and Benefits to Maine's Veterans and Provide Tuition Assistance to Members of the Maine National Guard
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Engrossed with: C "A" (H-584) H "C" (H-626) to C "A" (H-584)
	Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Fiscal Note
			FY 2015-16	FY 2016-17	Projections  FY 2017-18	Projections  FY 2018-19
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$0	$690,301	$704,636
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	($1,951,826)	$598,479	$608,682
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$500,000	$500,000	$500,000
Revenue
	General Fund		$0	($80,546)	($91,822)	($95,954)
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	($1,643)	($1,874)	($1,958)
Transfers
	General Fund		$0	($1,871,280)	$0	$0
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$1,871,280	$0	$0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill deappropriates $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2016-17 from the Debt Service - University of Maine System program within the University of Maine System on a one-time basis due to a delay in the issuance of an estimated $21,000,000 university revenue bond.  The delay will move the debt service payments approved in Public Law 2015, Chapter 267 forward by one year and will end in fiscal year 2025-26.  It also transfers the $2,500,000 to the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund to increase access to postsecondary education for National Guard members.
	The bill transfers $628,720 from the Gambling Control Board administrative expenses, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Public Safety to the General Fund unappropriated surplus in fiscal year 2016-17. This account has sufficient resources to accommodate this transfer.
	The bill includes a General Fund appropriation of $548,174 to the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management in fiscal year 2016-17 for an electronic case management system, 3 Veterans Services Officer positions and a marketing and outreach program. It also establishes headcount but no funding for one Veterans Outreach Specialist position which will not begin until an existing contract for similar services expires.
	The bill establishes the Maine National Guard Postsecondary Fund within the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management and provides an Other Special Revenue Funds allocation to the department of $500,000 beginning in fiscal year 2016-17 to provide tuition assistance to eligible members.
	This bill provides a sales tax exemption to all federally-chartered veterans' service organizations.  It would result in a loss of General Fund revenue of $80,546 in fiscal year 2016-17 and a loss to the Local Government Fund of $1,643 in fiscal year 2016-17.
	Additional costs to the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System to enter into the required memorandum of understanding can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.