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An Act To Amend the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program To Allow for Participation in Early College and Career and Technical Education Programs
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  26 MRSA §2033, sub-§5-A  is enacted to read:
 
5-A.  Secondary student eligibility.     Notwithstanding subsection 5, paragraph A, before January 1, 2020, a full-time student at a public secondary school enrolled in a career and technical education program at a career and technical education center or a career and technical education region may be granted enrollment in the program if the student applies for enrollment and meets the requirements of subsection 5, paragraphs B, C, D and E. For the purpose of determining eligibility under subsection 5, paragraph C, "income" includes the income of the student's family as defined by department rule.
 
The commissioner may not expend, on an annualized basis, more than 15% of the annual revenue to the fund for tuition, other allowable costs and administration and case management for students enrolled in the program under this subsection and the costs for any of these students who continue to participate in the program after attaining 18 years of age.
 
This subsection is repealed January 1, 2020.
Sec. 2. Report. The Department of Labor shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over workforce training matters by January 1, 2019 assessing the status of the inclusion of public secondary school students enrolled in a career and technical education program at a career and technical education center or a career and technical education region in the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, section 2033, subsection 5-A and the effect of this inclusion on the Competitive Skills Scholarship Fund and including any recommended legislation related to the report's findings. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over workforce training matters may report out a bill to address issues raised by the report to the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Employment Services Activity 0852
 
Initiative: Allocates funds for tuition costs associated with expanding the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program to include eligible full-time secondary students at public secondary schools.

COMPETITIVE SKILLS SCHOLARSHIP FUND	2015-16	2016-17	
All Other	$35,000	$131,600	
			
COMPETITIVE SKILLS SCHOLARSHIP FUND TOTAL	$35,000	$131,600	

Employment Services Activity 0852
 
Initiative: Allocates funds for one CareerCenter Consultant position beginning in fiscal year 2015-16 and an additional CareerCenter Consultant position beginning in fiscal year 2016-17 to support the additional workload associated with expanding the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program to include certain full-time secondary students at public secondary schools.

COMPETITIVE SKILLS SCHOLARSHIP FUND	2015-16	2016-17	
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	1.000	2.000	
Personal Services	$45,111	$121,096	
All Other	$19,750	$39,500	
			
COMPETITIVE SKILLS SCHOLARSHIP FUND TOTAL	$64,861	$160,596	

LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF			
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2015-16	2016-17	
			
COMPETITIVE SKILLS SCHOLARSHIP FUND	$99,861	$292,196	
			
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$99,861	$292,196	

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 127th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.