CHAPTER 85
H.P. 309 - L.D. 424
An Act To Exempt Certain Religious, Nonpublic, Postsecondary Institutions from State Requirements for Degree-granting Authority
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §10708, sub-§§2 and 3, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, are amended to read:
2. Federal reservations. Offer programs or courses which that are conducted solely on a federal reservation over which the Federal Government has exclusive jurisdiction. The commissioner shall authorize exempt status under this subsection; and
3. Noncredit courses. Offer courses or programs which that are not for academic credit.; and
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §10708, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4. Religious, nonpublic, educational institution. Meet the following criteria.
A. The educational institution must be substantially owned, operated or supported by a bona fide church or religious organization.
B. The educational programs of the educational institution must be primarily designed for, aimed at and attended by persons who seek to learn the particular religious faith or beliefs of the church or religious organization under paragraph A.
C. The programs under paragraph B must be intended to prepare students to assume leadership positions in, or enter into some other vocation closely related to, the particular faith of the church or religious organization under paragraph A.
The exemption under this subsection does not apply to any educational institution that represents to any student or prospective student that the major purpose of its program is to prepare the student for a vocation not closely related to the particular religious faith of the educational institution or to provide the student with a general educational program substantially equivalent to the educational programs offered by schools or departments or branches of schools that are not exempt from this section. Any educational institution receiving an exemption under this subsection must inform all applicants of its exempt status in writing and must prominently display the following statement on all written materials, including, but not limited to, any electronic materials, made available to potential applicants or to the general public: "Pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 10708, subsection 4, this institution is not required to obtain authorization from either the State Board of Education or the Maine State Legislature in order to: (1) use the name "junior college," "college" or "university," (2) offer courses or programs for academic credit or (3) confer degrees."
Effective September 17, 2005.
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