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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘Resolve, Regarding College Affordability in the Maine Community College System’
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1 Program review and report on college affordability and accessibility. Resolved: That the Maine Community College System shall identify and review programs that make college affordable and accessible in other states, including, but not limited to, Tennessee, Indiana, Rhode Island and New York. The review must assess opportunities, burdens, costs, benefits and successes of programs including promise programs, last dollar scholarship programs and free college programs. The system shall report its findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs no later than February 1, 2018; and be it further
Sec. 2 Last dollar scholarship program for Maine Community College System students enrolled in one-year occupational certificate programs. Resolved: That the Maine Community College System shall develop guidelines and eligibility requirements for and pilot a last dollar scholarship program in fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19 to cover costs associated with tuition and fees for qualified students who enroll in a one-year occupational certificate program; and be it further
Sec. 3 Last dollar scholarship program for Maine Community College System students enrolled in the 2nd year of a 2-year program. Resolved: That the Maine Community College System shall develop guidelines and eligibility requirements for and pilot a last dollar scholarship program in fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19 to cover costs associated with tuition and fees for qualified students who have successfully completed the first year of a 2-year program and are enrolled for the 2nd year; and be it further
Sec. 4 Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE
 
Last Dollar Scholarship Program N259
 
Initiative: Provides one-time funds to provide scholarships to a total of 275 full-time qualified students in a one-year occupational certificate program.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$250,000	$750,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$250,000	$750,000	

Last Dollar Scholarship Program N259
 
Initiative: Provides one-time funds to provide scholarships to a total of 550 qualified students who have successfully completed the first year of a 2-year program and are enrolled for the 2nd year.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$200,000	$1,800,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$200,000	$1,800,000	

COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE			
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2017-18	2018-19	
			
GENERAL FUND	$450,000	$2,550,000	
			
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$450,000	$2,550,000	
 
’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment is the majority report of the committee and changes the title and replaces the bill, which is a concept draft, with a resolve. The amendment requires the Maine Community College System to identify and review programs that make college affordable and accessible in other states and to report its findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by February 1, 2018. It provides funding for 2 new scholarship programs within the Maine Community College System in fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19. It provides $1,000,000 for a last dollar scholarship program to cover tuition and fees for selected students enrolled in a one-year occupational certificate program and $2,000,000 for a last dollar scholarship program to cover tuition and fees for selected students who have successfully completed the first year of a 2-year program and are enrolled for the 2nd year. The amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section to implement the scholarship programs.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)