132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 2098		LR 2617(01)
	An Act to Update Certain Higher Education Statutes
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Sargent of York
	Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
			FY 2025-26	FY 2026-27	Projections  FY 2027-28	Projections  FY 2028-29
Revenue
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$6,500	$6,500	$6,500
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill would require a degree-granting educational institution to pay an application fee for the initial application that reflects the costs to the Department of Education (department) for processing the application. The increase in application fees is expected to generate $6,500 in Other Special Revenue Funds revenues for the department. This fiscal note assumes that the department will receive about 11 applications per year, consistent with the prior year, and that the average fee charged will equal the unweighted average of the three fee tiers charged by the department ($250, $500, and $1000). The bill also allows the State Board of Education (state board) to recommend an educational institution to the Legislature for degree-granting authority without additional review if the state board has approved or renewed approval for the institution to offer academic programs in the State within five years of the institution's application for degree-granting authority. This provision is expected to generate minor savings for the state board.