128th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1492 LR 26(02)
An Act To Attract, Educate and Retain New Mainers To Strengthen the Workforce
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
FY 2017-18 FY 2018-19 Projections  FY 2019-20 Projections  FY 2020-21
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $745,000 $825,000 $225,000 $225,000
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $745,000 $825,000 $225,000 $225,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill includes General Fund appropriations totaling $745,000 in fiscal year 2017-18 and $825,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 to the Department of Education for programs to attract, educate and retain immigrant populations in the State's workforce.  These totals include:
1) Ongoing General Fund appropriations of $75,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 2017-18 to the Adult Education program for the expansion of the Welcome Center Initiative within the City of Lewiston's adult education program to attract, educate and retain foreign-trained workers residing in Androscoggin County;
2) Ongoing General Fund appropriations of $150,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 2017-18 to a newly created Local Community Planning Support Program to provide funds to counties, municipalities and school administrative units (SAU's) to manage new immigrant populations who have settled within the counties, municipalities and SAU's or to attract immigrant populations to address depopulation or workforce shortages;
3) One-time General Fund appropriations of $200,000 per year in both fiscal year 2017-18 and fiscal year 2018-19 to the Adult Education program for grants to adult education programs to increase English-language acquisition instruction in communities experiencing an increase in immigrant populations and for grants for proposed Welcome Centers; and
4) One-time General Fund appropriations of $320,000 in fiscal year 2017-18 and $400,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 to a newly created Vocation-specific English-language Acquisition and Workforce Training Program for grants to service providers to provide English-language instruction, vocational training and placement of immigrant populations in the State with employers of the State.